As of now (Monday June 29, 2020), one person has died and 86 have been hospitalized because of a salmonella outbreak from backyard chickens.
The CDC reported that since the beginning of 2020, 465 people have had salmonella in 42 states. If we look back at 2019, that’s about double what the numbers were at this time last year. About a third of the cases this year have been kids under the age of five. They recommend that if you have children at home, it’s best if they don’t touch the animals because they’re more prone to get serious infection.
Salmonella’s carried by chickens and other poultry in the digestive track. The bacteria then gets into their manure and ends up on their eggs as well. This doesn’t hurt the chickens at all, but it’ll give humans cramps, and other symptoms that can be very severe.
The CDC went as far as to say, “don’t kiss or snuggle backyard poultry”. You know it’s bad when they have to put out a warning like that.
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