With Easter weekend here, health officials are warning families about the risk of salmonella infections from handling baby chicks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that direct contact with poultry, especially young birds, can spread the bacteria, which causes gastroenteritis and, in the worst cases, severe illness. According to the CDC, children under five years of age and other high-risk individuals should avoid handling poultry or contaminated items. Proper handwashing with soap and water after contact with birds or their environment is essential to prevent infection. Officials also advise against kissing or snuggling chicks, keeping poultry indoors, and washing their food and water containers in the kitchen sink. Salmonella infections typically spike around Easter as more people purchase baby chicks. The CDC offers educational materials on safe backyard poultry practices to reduce the risk, and those resources are a below.
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www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html
