By CELESTE BAUMGARTNER
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — State officials reported that eight separate salmonella illnesses in Ohio are part of a multistate outbreak associated with chicks and/or ducklings purchased this year at agricultural supply stores sourced from an Ohio hatchery.

“We’re putting out a news release encouraging anyone who has purchased baby chicks to use care and basic precautions,” said Andy Ware with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). “If you’ve been handling them, wash your hands thoroughly and use care when touching any equipment for watering or feeding them. We are encouraging any stores that sell the chicks to be proactive and put out information about the risk of salmonella.”

The eight individuals who were infected ranged in age from three months to 76 years and live in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Licking, Medina and Wood counties, Ware said.

The Ohio Departments of Health (ODH) and Agriculture are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the USDA’s National Poultry Improvement Plan and Ohio’s local health departments in responding to the outbreak, he added.

“We encourage all agricultural supply stores that sell chickens and ducklings to post information on safe handling of these birds,” said James Zehringer, ODA director. “The CDC worked with the poultry industry and state agencies to offer a consumer information poster.”

Nationwide, a majority of individuals reported exposure to chicks and/or ducklings purchased at different locations of a national agricultural feed store that reported obtaining their chicks and ducklings from Ohio-based Mt. Healthy Hatchery, Ware said. Both businesses have been working with state and federal officials to investigate the outbreak and to stop more individuals from becoming ill.

It is important to remember that healthy, live chicks, ducklings and other poultry are potentially infected with salmonella. The ODH and ODA encourage people to follow these precautions:

•Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching live poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand-washing for young children.

•If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

•Clean any equipment or material associated with raising or caring for live poultry outside the house, such as cages or feed or water containers.

•Do not let children younger than five years of age, elderly people or those with weak immune systems handle or touch chicks, ducklings or other live poultry. These individuals should also avoid entering the area where poultry live. Do not let poultry inside the house, in bathrooms or especially in areas where food or drink are prepared, served or stored, such as kitchens or outdoor patios.

•Do not snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth or eat or drink around live poultry.

•Mail-order hatcheries, agricultural feed stores and others who sell or display chicks, ducklings and other live poultry should provide health-related information to owners and potential purchasers of these birds prior to the point of purchase. This should include information about the risk of acquiring a salmonella infection from contact with live poultry.

An example flyer on the risk of human salmonella infections from contact with live poultry and prevention recommendations is available in English and Spanish. More information on displaying animals in public settings can be found in the 2011 Compendium of Measures to Prevent Diseases Associated with Animals in Public Settings.

For more information visit the CDC websites listed below:
www.cdc.gov/salmonella/altona-baby-chicks/index.html
www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaPoultry
www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellababybirds