Don’t kiss your chickens. Salmonella outbreak prompts unusual warning

Don’t cuddle with your duck and keep the turkeys out of the living room.

That’s advice from the Washington State Department of Health. They know that backyard poultry farmers have a tendency to turn chickens and other fowl into pets.

That can lead to salmonella infections.

Salmonella cases tied to backyard poultry set a record high in 2017, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those led to 249 hospitalizations and one death.

In Washington, 23 salmonella cases were reported to state health officials. They say that’s double the cases reported in 2015 and 2016 combined.

Salmonella has long been associated with eating undercooked chicken. But it can infect humans from non-food sources including otherwise healthy poultry.

The health department offers these tips if you’ve become pals with Henrietta, Daffy or Tom:

▪ Don’t snuggle or kiss live poultry or allow them in family living spaces.

▪ Always wash hands with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Even healthy-looking chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys can carry the salmonella bacteria.

▪ Adults should supervise young children when handling live poultry.

The health department has more information on its website.

This story was originally published February 21, 2018 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Don’t kiss your chickens. Salmonella outbreak prompts unusual warning."