Salmonella outbreak hits Washington state
The Washington Department of Health is urging people to take precautions when handling poultry in the wake of a salmonella outbreak.
FILE PHOTO
OLYMPIA — An outbreak of salmonella has sickened 13 people in Washington state, one of them in Grant County, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Health.
This is part of a nationwide outbreak that has sickened 104 people in 31 states, the statement said. In Washington, four people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported, it said.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can be found in poultry manure which can make people sick, the statement said. Backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry salmonella even if they look healthy and clean. The bacteria can easily spread to cages, coops, hay, plants, and soil in the area where they live. You can get sick from salmonella by touching your mouth or food with unwashed hands, the DOH wrote.
“If you have a backyard flock, take steps to protect yourself and your family from salmonella infection,” Washington State Chief Science Officer Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett wrote in the statement. “Always wash your hands with soap and water after you've touched poultry, or soil or objects they’ve had contact with.”
People infected with salmonella usually become sick one to three days after exposure, the statement said. Symptoms include diarrhea that can be bloody, fever, chills, stomach cramps and occasionally vomiting. Most people recover within four to seven days without treatment. However, some people may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization. Children under five, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems are most likely to get severely sick from salmonella and should avoid handling backyard poultry or anything in the environments where poultry live or roam.
To avoid infection and protect your flock, the DOH urges these prevention steps:
• Wash your hands with soap and running water after touching backyard poultry or anything where they live and roam.
• Don’t kiss or snuggle poultry.
• Don’t eat or drink around your poultry.
• Keep poultry and the supplies you use to care for them outside of your home.
• Supervise children around birds; children younger than five should not touch birds.
• Separate your flock from wildlife.
• Practice good biosecurity.
• Safely handle, cook and store eggs.
More information on staying healthy while caring for backyard poultry can be found at https://bit.ly/43Hhbuo.