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Subscribe to RSSLive chicks and ducklings from a mail-order hatchery in Ohio are being blamed for a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 93 people in 23 states -- including one possible death.
This is the second time in a year that the Mount Healthy Hatchery near Cincinnati has been implicated in outbreaks of multiple strains of salmonella from live poultry.
At least 18 people have been hospitalized in connection with the latest outbreak, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a third of victims are children younger than 10.
Government health officials posted the report late Wednesday, the same day that CDC researchers published a summary of an eight-year outbreak of salmonella Montevideo tied to young poultry from a West Coast hatchery. At least 316 people were sickened between 2004 and 2011, said CDC officials, who declined to identify the hatchery.
The latest outbreak detected infections caused by strains of salmonella Infantis, salmonella Newport and salmonella Lille. The MountHealthy Hatchery was implicated in an 2011 outbreak of salmonella Altona and salmonella Johannesburg infections. State agriculture officials inspected the site last year and made recommendations for improvements.
CDC officials did not indicate which state was investigating a possible death tied to the new outbreak, which includes infections reported between March 1 and May 19. Sick people range in age from less than 1 to 100 years and 37 percent of victims are age 10 or younger.
There have been some three dozen salmonella outbreaks tied to mail-order poultry since 1990, said Casey Barton Behravesh, a veterinarian and researcher with the CDC. The young poultry are sold at agricultural feed stores or shipped directly to consumers by mail.
Live poultry can carry and shed salmonella even when they appear healthy and they can transmit the virus to humans after contact with the birds, their feed or their environment.
Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to salmonella infections, but even healthy people can become seriously ill.
Health officials urge consumers to be vigilant about thorough hand-washing after handling poultry and about avoiding potential contamination.
It's up to agriculture officials to work with industry to insure the safety of the birds, said Tony Forshey, the Ohio state veterinarian who has inspected and advised the Mount Healthy Hatchery throughout the recent outbreaks. But consumers also need to realize that live chicks and ducklings are livestock, not pets.
"The industry has a responsibility," he said. "But, to me, the public has a responsibility to be educated as well."
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"they can transmit the virus to humans"
Salmonella is a bacteria not a virus.
They usually have people that are experts in sports write sports articles, cooking articles by chefs, etc. Why do they let someone with a sub-elementary school knowledge of sicnece, nature or technology write these articles and embarrass themselves and CNN? I think I know - no one knows the difference and have a caveman knowledge of science.
to err is human...but to forgive is just devine...it's MSNBC also...welcome to da vine...bob...
bob, you come up with some funnies sometimes but that might be your best one yet.
Bob,
I agree with you and was going to point out the same mistake, but would not have used the pejorative terms such as caveman and sub-elementary. This was a sad mistake, but so are typographical errors. If I had the temerity to give you advice, it would be to use spellcheck or proofread before you post.
On the Somber Sadness Scale (10 = heartbreaking and 0 = almost happy) ignorance of science is 7 to 8.5 while any typo or grammar errors are rarely above a 3 - and usually between 1 and 2.
The article yesterday wouldn't name the other hatchery "out west" that also has salmonella problems. They claim it is because most of their business revolves around Easter. I say if you name one, you name the other. It is only fair.
The veterinarian has it right, poultry are not pets. I can't count the number of people that have come to my farm looking for a "pet chicken" and then are not happy when I tell them no way. Living w/ livestock is a terrible idea. They live outdoors, in a barn etc, not on the couch or in the bed with your kids (yes I've seen this, full grown birds sleeping w/ kids). Poultry SHEDS bacteria, protozoa, not to mention their general dander/dust. It is not healthy to sleep w/ these animals. Don't think it is cute or funny, it's poor management.
Here we go again...someone who feels qualified to define "pet" vs. "livestock" for all of us. I have had "pet" chickens for 25 years, of many different breeds, including ornamental breeds like silkies and Polish. My birds (which live outside) have different personalities, different levels of intelligence, and some will come running at the sound of their name. I have also had "pet" goats, sheep, and llamas, and ditto for them. Dogs and cats are raised as "livestock" and eaten in other parts of the world. Hatcheries sell millions of chicks every year and only a tiny fraction spread disease. Most of these birds go to farmers, 4-H kids, and people wanting to raise them for eggs, meat, and exhibition. I have brought many a sick chicken into my house to treat in 25 years, and I'm a healthy 65 years old. Chickens are no 'dirtier' than any other animal, IF their surroundings are kept clean. Dogs and cats can carry dangerous (especially to children) parasites, transmit rabies, cage birds can transmit Psittacosis, etc.etc. Salad greens can also transmit salmonella, among numerous other sources of the infection. State vets are spokespeople for Big Government and Big Ag. I know several veterinarians who keep PET chickens themselves. One in particular has gotten many a child interested in exhibition poultry through 4-H. A visit to "Backyard Chickens" website will provide a glimpse into how many different ways there are to keep poultry. A visit to an APA poultry show will provide a glimpse of the hundreds of breeds, some developed for ornamental purposes only. From the tiny Serama to the Jersey Giant, to the silkie with fur-like feathers, there is as much phenotypical variation as in dog breeds. To each his own.
But you just said it Libertarian. Your "pet" chickens live outside. The post you responded to, by tntblaster, said that he or she had seen chickens in the house on the couch and children sleeping with fully grown birds. I agree that these things are a very bad idea. But having a pet chicken that lives outdoors is fine.
I have chickens myself, but I would never, ever consider bringing one into my home for any reason other than perhaps for required first aid, which I did when I had more than one rooster. I don't consider them pets, but they do have clean surroundings, clean water and food. They have outside room to wander about to do their scratching thing. They can get to shelter if something threatens them, be it a hawk or inclement weather. Their coop also has windows with screens. I would like to think that they are content birds. People who do not wash their hands with LOTS OF SOAP and the HOTTEST water they can handle after caring for their chickens, ducks or other fowl are just asking for disease. It is a good idea as well to have a set of clothing and shoes that one wears only for barn visits. I know several people who do this and so do I.
While I might disagree that chickens aren't any dirtier than any other animal, they do provide considerable entertainment and delicious fresh eggs.
Chicks are like pr!cks. You are suppose to wash your hands after handling either one.
And where is the FDA and the USDA who PROMISED to keep our food safe from just such an eventuality? Did they forget the much-vaunted "Food Safety Bill" already?
Remember, this is the same governmental agency whose leaders told Americans we have "no absolute right" to "any particular food" or to "bodily and physical health."
I guess they have amply proven that. AGAIN.
The FDA and USDA are two of the most understaffed and underfunded departments in the Federal Government. I'm surprised there aren't more people dieing every day from food born contamination.
Momster,How many people should the FDA and USDA hire to make sure you wash your hands every time you handle a pet or farm animal? How many should the EPA hire to make sure you wipe, flush, and wash your hands after you take a dump? How about stop blaming the various government agencies for stuff that is not their fault. If you handle a dirty animal wash you hands! After a bathroom visit wash your hands! After handling raw food wash your hands! If you don't want to be obese don't drink soda 64 ounces at a time four times a day!
^^ We don't need the gov't to keep our food safe, nanny state no thank you. Take some responsibility as a producer and consumer for the safety of your own food first and foremost. Let the gov't worry about how to balance their budget.
So you believe that out of their concern for the public producers would self regulate and keep the food supply safe? I've got a bridge for sale, you interested? The only thing keeping the food supply as safe as it is, is the fear of Government inspection. If their was no FDA and we have an outbreak of a food born illness; who would research and trace the origin? The producers, lol!
It's a well known fact that baby chicks can carry/shed salmonella. I think the parents are more responsible than the hatchery. People should wash their hands after handling animals.
I bet the reptile stores are going to get investigated next since reptiles also shed salmonella.
Why would anyone order chickens by mail in the first place? Aren't there enough farms locally all over the country to just drive out and buy chicks? Well, I guess maybe not, considering some people are born, live and die within three blocks in the 'hoods' of Chicago, Detroit or NYC.
No, in fact. There are not enough local farms to provide chickens as you suggest. When I can order chicks by mail for less than what I would pay for gas or by getting them from our local farm store (which gets them from the same place I order from) it is just fiscally smarter.