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June 14 (UPI) – According to a new study, an outbreak of salmonella linked to backyard chickens continues to spread throughout the United States.
Since May, an additional 227 people have reported contracting the disease, bringing the total number of cases to 279, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of states reporting cases has also increased from 20 to 41.
Up to now, 40 people have gone to the hospital for treatment, but no deaths have been reported.
Children under 5 years old account for about one-third of all reported salmonellosis cases. Many infected people have contracted the disease from chicks and ducklings purchased online, from hatcheries and from agricultural produce stores.
People are usually infected with salmonella by eating animals that carry the disease, although some people contract it by kissing and touching the animals or their environment.
The CDC recommends that people stay outdoors while cleaning cages, food containers or water or other equipment used for poultry farming.
In early June, the CDC also reported 27 cases of salmonella related to hedgehogs.
Bacterial disease usually causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that persist for 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. Overall, salmonella lasts from four to seven days. People usually heal salmonella without any treatment.
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