Salmonella and Easter

Details

• Personal Author:
  Vance NK
• Description:
  Peep, chirp, quack! They're so cute. They're so fluffy. And they just might make you sick. It's that time of the year again when we enjoy giving or receiving baby poultry as Easter gifts. Before giving baby poultry as gifts, you must consider what health risks may be involved while handling these cute babies. Many baby poultry, such as chicks, ducklings, goslings, and baby turkeys, can carry harmful germs called Salmonella. Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children can be exposed to Salmonella by holding, cuddling, or kissing the birds and by touching things where the bird lives, such as cages or feed and water bowls. Young children are especially at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing and because they are more likely than adults to put their fingers or other items into their mouths. How do adults/children become infected? Live poultry may have Salmonella germs in their droppings and on their bodies (feathers, feet, and beaks) even when they appear healthy and clean. The germs can also get on cages, coops, hay, plants, and soil in the area where the birds live and roam. Additionally, the germs can be found on the hands, shoes, and clothing of those who handle the birds or work or play where they live and roam. Salmonella can make people severely sick which can cause them to have to visit the emergency room. Children, seniors and those with immune issues are more likely than others to develop severe sickness. The CDC mentions that when severe infection occurs, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. Spring is the season for growth and vitality. Chicks, ducklings and other baby poultry are iconic during this time of year. Make sure you are taking the steps to safeguard your health when you are working or living near poultry. This safety blast also contains dos and don'ts for risk reduction as well as signs & symptoms. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animal Husbandry Animals Communicable Diseases Food Industry Health Promotion Occupational Health Public Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Animal Husbandry Bacterial Disease Bacterial Infections Health Promotion Infection Prevention Infectious Diseases Injury Prevention Poultry Public Health Safety Practices
• Publisher:
  The Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Newsletter
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053275
• Citation:
  Monthly Safety Blast. Tyler, TX: The Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education, 2017 Apr; :website
• Email:
  agcenter@uthct.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Center at Tyler
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Monthly Safety Blast
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3daf883d114510cefbba9d71fd89326e8ec7d23ad1bff88534822fc5fcbb935a7f75a21f3748f80485898247f2264ea855e80b82f6da6e8ad8eeceeb6787636c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216067/cdc_216067_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 210.90 KB ]