INDIANA – Don’t want to get salmonella? Don’t kiss or cuddle your chicken.

At least 50 people in the US have gotten salmonella since May 10. Nearly half of those people told the CDC they’d had contact with chicken, ducks or other “backyard poultry” birds before getting sick.

The CDC says anyone who keeps poultry should take special precautions to avoid contracting and spreading salmonella, including:

– Don’t kiss backyard poultry or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth.

– Wash your hands after touching or handling chickens, ducks, chicks, or ducklings.

– Don’t allow the birds inside your house, especially in areas where food or drinks are prepared.

The CDC suggests people under five and over 65 avoid handling chicks, ducklings, or other poultry altogether.

Salmonella is a bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 72 hours of exposure to the bacteria. The infection lasts four to seven days and most people recover without needing medical treatment.

 

Photo by William Moreland on Unsplash