United States – Avian meat and eggs are leading to a spate of Salmonella across the country, the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted.
The CDC revealed in its health advisory that roughly 109 persons in 29 states have been infected with Salmonella through contact with backyard poultry.
Hospital Admissions
According to the CDC, 33 individuals have been admitted to the hospital. For this reason, no lives have been lost. The agency also said that about over 40% of those affected by the outbreak are children under the age of five, as reported by HealthDay.
Hidden Dangers
As observed by the CDC, birds reared at home, including chickens, may have salmonella bacteria regardless of how neat they may seem. These diseases can easily spread to anything covering areas where poultry resides or moves often.
Salmonella germs can still cause illnesses in people who come in contact with backyard poultry or have contact with their environment: touching their mouth or food, they swallow salmonella germs.
Recognizing Symptoms
Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach aches, and initial symptoms begin six hours to six days after consuming the bacteria.
Risk Factors
According to the CDC, Salmonella is usually treated by drinking more fluids and going without food for about one week.
But, there are those who will develop a serious illness that will necessitate either medication or hospitalization. However, the most at risk are children below the age of five years, persons aged 65 years and above, and persons with compromised immune systems.
According to the CDC, people who come into contact with backyard poultry or their products, including eggs, or live in areas where birds roam should wash their hands immediately.
Protective Measures
People should not kiss or hug their backyard chicken or even consume food or beverages when attending to the chickens, the CDC said.
Families should ensure that children do not come into close contact with the flocks, as they are more likely to get extremely sick from Salmonella, as reported by HealthDay.
Egg Safety Protocol
Surely, you should not be careless with the eggs. Gather them in batches, discard any with cracks, and always clean off their surface using a brush, cloth, or fine sandpaper. DO NOT wash eggs; the colder water will pull the germs into the egg, according to the CDC.