Three in Whatcom sickened in nationwide salmonella outbreak
Three Whatcom County residents — including one who was hospitalized — were among 37 people sicked in a nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry.
No details were provided about the Whatcom County cases in a statement from the Whatcom County Health Department that was posted to the county website, Thursday, Nov. 10.
But the person who was hospitalized has been released, the Health Department said.
“Birds and reptiles commonly carry salmonella and other pathogens. Illness outbreaks occur each year among people who care for birds and reptiles. Illness risk is present in both livestock and pets,” said Tom Kunesh, who is the Health Department’s food and living environment supervisor.
A total of 37 salmonella cases found in Washington state were traced to a nationwide outbreak among backyard poultry such as chicken and ducks, the statement said.
A federal investigation found more than 1,000 cases across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Salmonella bacteria can cause serious illness and sometimes death.
Children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to get sick and they are urged not to handle live poultry.
People can get salmonella poisoning by touching poultry or contaminated objects and surfaces and then touching their mouths or eating with unwashed hands.
Backyard poultry can carry disease even if they look healthy and clean, the statement said.
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 2:19 PM.
