The New Mexico Health Department said it's identified a poultry hatchery that sells live baby chickens, ducks and other poultry by mail and supplies them to feed stores, as the source of a nationwide salmonella outbreak.
According to the United Press International, health officials announced Monday, the outbreak, which sickened 316 people in 37 states, was found in a duck pen at Privett Hatchery in Portales, N.M.,
No deaths have been reported, but 51 people have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children ages 10 and younger account for nearly three-fifths of those who've become ill.
"I want to emphasize how cooperative the hatchery has been in helping to identify the source of this outbreak by working with officials from numerous agencies. Privett Hatchery was willing to conduct multiple tests," said Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward. "The Department wants to remind parents not to keep live baby poultry in their homes. Any time anyone handles baby ducklings or chicks, they need to wash their hands thoroughly to reduce the risk of contracting Salmonella."
The CDC said more testing is ongoing. Privett Hatchery said in a statement on its web site that it's cooperating with state and federal officials, and that some of the salmonella cases may be linked to its operation. According to the Huffington Post, the department has agreed to halt all sells of any poultry item that orientated from the hatchery.
In order to slow down and eventually stop the outbreak, the hatchery has commercially produced a vaccine that will be given to all of its birds and decontaminating all eggs before entry into the hatchery.
According to the CDC, salmonella cases have occurred across the country - from California to New York - since March. Colorado has reported the most cases, 37, followed by Texas with 32.
"There is a lot that responsible parents and others can do to help reduce the number of Salmonella cases, especially those occurring in children," said Department of Health public health veterinarian Paul Ettestad. "Salmonella can be present in the droppings of chicks and other baby birds, even though the animals themselves usually won't show signs of illness. This makes it easy for people to let their guard down, and that's when they run the risk of getting Salmonella."
According to the press release from the department, salmonella infections can happen when baby chicks are brought inside a home and children handle them. People should thoroughly wash their hands after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they roam, the department said.
Early symptoms of Salmonella in people include fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. These symptoms develop one to three days after exposure to baby chicks and their droppings. Other symptoms might include nausea, chills or headaches.
The Department recommends that people young and old take the following preventive measures such as washing hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching live baby birds. Adults should supervise hand children and keep them from kissing or rubbing the animal onto their bodies.