Salmonella Exposure Risks for People Raising Backyard Poultry

In communities across the country, an increasing number of people are choosing to raise live poultry in their backyards. This is happening in both rural and urban communities as more towns and cities change ordinances to allow the practice.

Having poultry in the backyard can be an enjoyable experience for many, while also producing food for families. However, handling live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam can sometimes make people sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s common for chickens, ducks and other poultry to carry Salmonella, a type of bacteria that naturally lives in the intestines of poultry and many other animals. While it typically doesn’t make the birds sick, Salmonella can cause serious illness when it is passed to people.

Salmonella can be carried in the droppings and on the bodies of live poultry. The bacteria can get on cages, coops, feed and water dishes, hay, plants and soil. These germs also can get on the hands, shoes and clothes of people who handle the birds or work or play where they live and roam.

“In just the first seven months of this year, the CDC investigated eight multistate outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to live poultry in backyard flocks,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Over 600 people were infected in 45 states with more than 100 people hospitalized. Almost a third all of the infected people were children 5 years old or younger.”

EMSL Analytical, Inc. offers comprehensive testing services for Salmonella and other microbial pathogens. These services are instrumental for testing food products, areas where poultry may live and roam, water and soil, and any surfaces that may have become contaminated. EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about backyard poultry and Salmonella exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/fQmOd_B_P68.

To learn more about Salmonella or other food and environmental testing services, please visit www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 40 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations.  In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.
 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail