Salmonella outbreaks, linked to backyard chickens and ducks

Children younger than 5 years old made up 26 percent of the people reported sick from the bacteria, the CDC reported. More than 70 percent of those sick said they came into contact with chicks or ducklings in the week before symptoms developed. The chickens came from a variety of sources, including feed supply stores, websites, hatcheries and from family members.

Backyard flocks can be a great source of entertainment for families and allow for the production of fresh, local eggs. However, the risk associated with owning backyard flocks is one that most people are not aware of, according to Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, Deputy Branch Chief for the Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch for CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases.

Read more: CDC