America’s love affair with backyard chickens is making a few of us sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says eight salmonella outbreaks linked to petting pet poultry have occurred in the U.S. this year. They’ve sickened more than 370 people in 47 states, 71 of whom had to be hospitalized.
No one has died this year – yet. Last year, three people died from it.
Source: Washington Post, June 6, 2017 (paywall)
But in a new advisory of the current outbreaks, the CDC repeats that cohabitation with poultry is not a good idea, no matter how cuddly and house-trained the birds might be. In particular, chickens, geese and the like should not be in spots where food is prepared and consumed.
INSIGHTS: This article is great blog, social media and newsletter material. It’s also a strong reminder to mind manners around poultry and good counsel for poultry owners.