Final Updates to Live Poultry Salmonella Outbreaks Released

By News Desk | October 12, 2012 Two Salmonella outbreaks linked to live chickens and ducks received final updates this morning from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both outbreaks appear to have ended. At least 93 people in 23 states and Puerto Rico were infected with Salmonella Montevideo from poultry distributed by Estes Hatchery in Springfield, Missouri beginning in February. Of those with information available, 21 were hospitalized, while one patient died from medical complications unrelated to their Salmonella infection. Another 46 people in 11 states fell ill with Salmonella Hadar from poultry distributed by an unnamed hatchery in Idaho beginning in March. At least 13 people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. Children under the age of 10 accounted for 38 percent of the Montevideo infections and 30 percent of the Hadar. The number of Salmonella Montevideo illnesses by state: Alaska (1), California (4), Colorado (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (10), Iowa (2), Kansas (15), Kentucky (2), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (28), Nebraska (8), Nevada (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (5), Puerto Rico (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (1), Vermont (1), West Virginia (1) and Wyoming (1). The number of Salmonella Hadar illnesses by state: Arizona (2), California (2), Colorado (5), Idaho (6), Illinois (4), Oregon (6), Tennessee (2), Texas (1), Utah (6), Washington (10) and Wyoming (2). Health officials advise anyone handling live poultry, including baby chicks and ducklings, to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. These animals can carry deadly pathogens and are recommended not to be handled by children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems. © Food Safety News More Headlines from Foodborne Illness Investigations » Tags: chicks, live poultry, Salmonella, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Montevideo