Salmonella Linked to Backyard Chickens Causing Sicknesses in Iowa

If you have chickens, be aware that there is a new salmonella outbreak that is connected to them based on information shared by the CDC.

The CDC just released an alert indicating that an uptick in sicknesses related to backyard poultry is now affecting many states and Iowa more than others. If you look at the official map they shared, you'll notice we have more salmonella cases than just about any other.

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What to do if you have chickens? The CDC recommends that you wash your hands often and be sure to supervise children that may be near them. In addition, they say that you shouldn't snuggle your chickens in case that's a habit of yours. Seriously. You also need to be careful how you handle eggs.

How can you tell if you have a salmonella-related sickness? Here's what the CDC says to watch for:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
• Bloody diarrhea
• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
  
  • Not urinating (peeing) much
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Feeling dizzy when standing up

So far, there are no deaths linked to salmonella sickness in Iowa, but there are a total of 163 hospitalizations so far.

For more information and updates, you can check out the official CDC website regarding this outbreak.