This archive report was first published on 8 September 2019.
On September 8, 2019, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to Americans about the risks of kissing or snuggling chickens due to a recent outbreak of salmonella.
According to the CDC, 1,003 cases of salmonella, including two deaths, have been recorded across the US since the beginning of this year.
The agency has urged owners to take precautions to avoid contracting the bacterial infection, including washing their hands with soap and water after touching backyard poultry, not letting chickens inside the house, and setting aside a separate pair of shoes to wear while taking care of backyard birds.
"Kissing backyard poultry or snuggling them and then touching your face or mouth" can lead to the transmission of salmonella, the CDC warned.
Although salmonella is typically transmitted by undercooked poultry, 67 percent of patients in the latest outbreak reported contact with backyard poultry.
Salmonella, a bacterial pathogen, can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, and is most dangerous to young people and the elderly, who may require prompt treatment with antibiotics to avoid fatal consequences.
