Outbreak of human Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to contact with baby poultry from a single agricultural feed store chain and mail-order hatchery, 2009.
2013The Pediatric infectious disease journal
Loharikar A, Vawter S, Warren K, Deasy M, Moll M +11 more
Plain English
This study looked at a Salmonella outbreak in 2009 that mainly affected children in Pennsylvania and New York, linked to contact with baby poultry from agricultural feed stores and a mail-order hatchery. Researchers found 36 cases, with 36% of those infected being children ages 5 and under. Children who had contact with live baby birds were significantly more likely to become sick, with a 17 times higher odds of infection compared to matched controls. This matters because it highlights the ongoing risk of Salmonella infections tied to live poultry, especially for young children, and shows that steps need to be taken at hatcheries and stores to prevent these diseases.
Who this helps: This helps parents and healthcare providers looking to protect young children from Salmonella infections.