Stop the Spread of Salmonella A message from the Washington State Departments of Agriculture and Health Springtime is the season for chicks and ducklings. While raising poultry can be a great experience, it is important that owners take steps to help keep themselves and others healthy. Handling chicks and ducklings poses a potential health risk of Salmonella. Salmonella are a common cause of food-borne illness, but can also be spread to people by direct contact with animals that carry the bacteria. Children are particularly at risk of illness because they are less likely to wash their hands and have more frequent hand-to-mouth contact than adults.	Who Knew?
	Over the past decade, five outbreaks of Salmonella infections have been associated with handling chicks. One of the largest outbreak affected over 22 residents of Washington and Oregon. In this outbreak, about half of the patients were younger than 13 years old.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection begin about one to three days after exposure and include diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain. Illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people will recover without medical treatment. However, in some people the symptoms may be so severe that treatment or hospitalization is needed. Infants, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience severe illness.

Simple actions can prevent the spread of  Salmonella.

Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching chicks and ducklings. It is the single most important thing you can do! When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand wipes and gel sanitizers may be used. Sanitizers may not be as effective if hands are too dirty. Clean off as much dirt as possible before using sanitizers.

Chicks and ducklings are not appropriate pets for children under 5 or people with weakened immune systems. Infants, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe illness from Salmonella.

Supervise children when handling baby birds. Don't allow them to:

• nuzzle or kiss chicks and ducklings

• touch their mouths with their hands

• eat and drink

Keep chicks and ducklings in a designated area away from family living spaces. Especially, keep birds and their equipment out of the kitchen and any area where food is prepared. Disinfect areas where feeders, water containers, and cages are cleaned.

Call your health care provider, if you or your child has a high fever, severe diarrhea or other symptoms that concern you.

Find out more:

• Salmonella, Washington State Department of Health, Salmonellosis Fact Sheet

• Hand washing stops germs, CDC, Germ Stopper

• Pet-related diseases, Why parents should think twice before giving baby birds for Easter, CDC, Healthy Pets Healthy People

• Poultry diseases, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Animal Health

Help share our prevention message with your community. Order your free educational materials, Salmonella/Chick-Wash Your Hands 4x8 flyer (334-072) English/Spanish, 11x17 poster (334-070), duck sticker (334-069) English/Spanish, and chick sticker (334-071) English/Spanish. Simply fill out the publication request form and fax it to the Washington State Department of Health - Publications Warehouse at (360) 664-2929.

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Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Washington State Department of Health
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Last Update : 03/15/2007 12:56 PM
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