NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials reported on Monday that at least seven individuals have fallen ill across six states due to a new salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two cases have been confirmed in Missouri, with additional cases in Florida, Illinois, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin.
The illnesses occurred in February and March of this year, and all affected individuals tested positive for the same strain of salmonella. This strain has previously been traced to hatchery sites, and investigations are ongoing, health officials confirmed.
Each year, salmonella bacteria are responsible for approximately 1.35 million infections, and this recent outbreak is associated with sources including cucumbers, eggs, unpasteurized milk, fresh basil, geckos, and pet bearded dragons.
One major concern is that chickens and other backyard poultry can harbor salmonella bacteria even if they appear healthy and clean. The backyard poultry-related outbreak at the end of last year was linked to 470 cases across 48 states, including one death.
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Source: apnews.com