In a recent release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dated June 27^th, the Agency documented 86 new cases of salmonellosis with 17 recent hospitalizations from nine additional states.  To date, the total number of cases has attained 195 with 50 hospitalizations.

A wide range of Salmonella serotypes have been identified including Altoona, Cerro, Indiana, Infantis, Typhimurium and Mbandaka.  In almost all cases, traceback has demonstrated contact with backyard poultry.  Patients range in age from 1 to 93 years with a medium age of 14 years and almost half under 5 years of age.  Chicks were purchased from retail stores or were ordered from hatcheries.

CDC is able to follow incident cases using the PulseNet database.  Isolates are subjected to whole-genome sequencing, confirming correlation between patients and their flocks.  In cases diagnosed in Minnesota, Ohio and Utah, Salmonella isolates were obtained from chicken boxes denoting hatcheries as a source of infection.  Multiple drug resistance has been demonstrated from a number of isolates.

Have we not reached a point where we have established a risk to children of acquiring salmonellosis from backyard chickens? In 1975 the FDA banned interstate sale of immature turtles resulting in a precipitous decline in incident cases the following year. Turtles, snakes, lizards,iguanas and other reptiles are, to quote the late Dr. Eugene Gangarosa, “inappropriate pets for children”. We can now add chicks and ducklings to the list. Since the serotypes implicated in outbreaks are not generally regarded as being vertically transmitted, deficiencies in hygienic handling and incubation of eggs and neglect of preventive modalities are responsible for the magnitude of the problem. A combination of regulatory intervention and tort litigation in conjunction with education of both suppliers and customers is indicated.