The CDC is investigating a multistate salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry, and the strain involved is showing resistance to several antibiotics. As of the latest update, 34 cases had been confirmed across 13 states, with the highest case counts reported in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Other affected states include Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Thirteen people have been hospitalized, and nearly 80% of those infected said they had contact with backyard poultry before getting sick. Officials also warned that people do not need direct contact with poultry to get infected because the bacteria can spread through cages, feed, shoes, and other items in the birds’ environment.
Why This Matters:
This is not just a backyard poultry story. It is a food safety and public health warning involving a drug-resistant strain, which raises the stakes. When infections are harder to treat and spread through everyday contact with animals or their environment, the risk is bigger than most people realize. Staying alert to outbreaks like this and taking practical precautions matters.
Read the full article here.
Source: Fast Company
By: Michael Grothaus
