The annual backyard poultry Salmonella outbreak has begun

Having bid farewell to Easter just a couple of weeks ago, it’s now time to welcome the annual Salmonella outbreak that is the inevitable outcome of those cute chicks and ducklings.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aided by public health departments in several states, has opened an investigation into seven cases of Salmonella Mbandaka infections. The cases are spread across six states.

The victims range in age from less than one year old to 55 years old. Forty-three percent are less than five years old.

The outbreak strain is the same one that was linked to two hatcheries in past outbreaks, including one which is also linked to the poultry shipping material sample in the current outbreak.

Investigators in Ohio collected samples from the inside of boxes used to ship poultry from hatcheries to retail stores, including the box liner and bedding. WGS showed that the Salmonella Mbandaka found in these samples was the same strain as the one found in sick people.

Outbreak expected to grow

According to the CDC, the true number of cases may be much larger than the cases reported so far. Victims who do not seek medical attention (whether due to mild symptoms or to the cost of health care) do not get tested for Salmonella. Additionally, it can take 3-4 weeks for a diagnosed case to be reported to the CDC.

In the last decade, Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry have produced more than 9,300 known victims, causing 1,999 hospitalizations and 12 deaths.

2024: 470 cases; 125 hospitalizations; 1 death
2023: 1,072 cases; 247 hospitalizations; 0 deaths
2022: 1,230 cases; 225 hospitalizations; 2 deaths
2021: 1,135 cases; 273 hospitalizations; 2 deaths
2020: 1,722 cases; 333 hospitalizations; 1 death
2019: 1134 cases; 219 hospitalizations; 2 deaths
2018: 334 cases; 56 hospitalizations; 0 deaths
2017: 1120 cases; 249 hospitalizations; 1 death
2016: 895 cases; 209 hospitalizations; 3 deaths
2015: 252 cases; 63 hospitalizations; 0 deaths