Two deaths noted in growing Salmonella outbreaks tied to poultry

Chick in hands
Chick in hands

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Last week the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a spike of Salmonella illnesses connected to backyard poultry, including two deaths, and a multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella outbreak tied to pig ear dog treats has grown by 48 infections, to 93 total.

Almost 500 cases tied to live poultry

As of Jul 12, a total of 768 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 48 states, an increase of 489 people and 8 states from the last update posted in June. Of 419 case-patients with available information, 122 (29%) have been hospitalized, and patients in Ohio and Texas have died from their infections.

Almost one quarter (24%) of the infections are in children under the age of 5 years, and 237 (75%) of 315 ill people reported contact with chicks or ducklings in the weeks prior to symptom onset.

"Backyard poultry from multiple hatcheries are the likely source of these outbreaks. Regardless of where poultry are purchased, they can carry Salmonella germs that can make people sick," the CDC said.

So far infections with Salmonella serotypes Agona, Alachua, Anatum, Braenderup, Enteritidis, Infantis, Manhattan, Montevideo, Muenchen, Newport, and Oranienburg have been linked to contact with backyard poultry.

Ohio has the most cases, with 62, followed by Tennessee (55), and Texas and Virginia (both with 39).

Resistant strain tied to dog treats

In the MDR Salmonella outbreak, CDC officials added 48 cases, three strains, and 7 states to the outbreak since Jul 3, with cases climbing to 93 in 20 states.

In addition to Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-, officials have confirmed Salmonella Infantis, Newport, and London strains tied to contact with pig ears used as dog treats.

Illness-onset dates range from Oct 1, 2018, to Jun 20, 2019, and patients vary from less than a year to 90 years, with a median age of 38. Of 67 people with available information, 20 (30%) have been hospitalized. That number is up from 12 on Jul 3.

Whole-genome sequencing of isolates from 33 patients predicted antibiotic resistance or decreased susceptibility to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline, the CDC said.

Of 70 patients interviewed, 63 (90%) reported contact with a dog before getting sick. Of 49 people with available information, 34 (69%) reported contact with pig ear dog treats or with dogs who were fed such treats. That rate is substantially higher than the 16% reported in people not sick with salmonellosis who were used as controls.

Iowa has confirmed the most cases, 18, followed by New York state with 11 and Michigan with 9.

Pet Supplies Plus, of Livonia, Michigan, recalled its bulk pig ears on Jul 3 as a result of this outbreak.

Editorial director Jim Wappes contributed to this story.

See also:

Jul 19 CDC poultry update

Jul 17 CDC pig ear update

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