Children under 5 should not handle baby poultry

Tagging along with those irresistible baby chicks during Easter season is another species less desired for adoption: Salmonella enteritis. The resulting infection, salmonellosis is a serious illness that can be transmitted to people through contact with chicks and other baby poultry purchased as pets, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns.

During 2006, state health departments notified CDC of three outbreaks of Salmonella species infections in persons who had been in contact with baby poultry (chicks, ducklings, goslings, and others) purchased at agricultural feed stores. The feed stores received the poultry from hatcheries, and each of the three outbreaks had a hatchery to which it was traced.

For decades, baby poultry, particularly chicks and ducklings, have been known to be a source of salmonellosis. Recently the source of birds associated with salmonellosis outbreaks have been traced back to hatcheries. Investigations of these outbreaks show that many persons who purchase baby poultry remain unaware that handling these birds puts persons at risk for salmonellosis, especially children.

During springtime and the Easter season it is important to remember that children are more susceptible to infection from baby chicks and young ducklings because they are more likely than others to put their fingers into their mouths and because their immune systems are still developing, the CDC emphasizes. People should be educated on how to avoid contact with bird feces and should wash their hands with soap and warm water after handling baby poultry or anything that has been in contact with them. Additionally, children younger than five years of age should not be allowed to handle baby chicks or other baby birds.