Baby poultry carry salmonella bacteria that can cause serious illness. Salmonella bacteria often contaminate adult chickens, ducks, and other live poultry. The adult poultry spread the bacteria to their offspring. Because of their size and cuteness, these birds often are picked up by children, who may put them close to their faces and kiss them. In most cases, children don’t wash their hands after handling baby poultry. Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever with symptoms lasting three to seven days. Anyone with compromised immune systems, the very young, and the elderly could become very ill and die of the infection. Since 2010, Oregon has had nine outbreaks with 37 confirmed cases of illnesses caused by salmonella bacteria from chicks. A third or more of the cases were children. The last major salmonella outbreak was in 2013 when people handled, kissed, and kept poultry inside the home. Tips for preventing salmonella infection from baby poultry: • Don’t give live baby birds to children. Instead, give stuffed animals. • Never allow poultry inside the home. • Keep chicks in an appropriate outdoor area. • If chicks are handles, never nuzzle or kiss them. • Always wash hands with soap and water after handling any animal or animal waste. • Thoroughly clean surfaces contaminated by animals or animal waste. For more information about baby birds and salmonella, visit the Oregon Public Health website at http://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/CommunicableDisease/Pages/FS-Baby-birds-and-Salmonella.aspx.
