Think of Salmonella infection and most people think about food.  The current outbreak of infection traced to peanut butter and last year’s tomato scare put food-borne outbreaks in the headlines but food isn’t always the source for Salmonella outbreaks.  Other sources cause problems, too.

The most recent ‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,’ issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the reminder of two Salmonella infections that spread beyond state boundaries in 2007.  Both were traced to handling live poultry.

In Minnesota and North Dakota, 65 people are known to have become sick, with symptoms that included bloody diarrhea, after handling live poultry at a fair, a farm, and a feed store.  Eight of these people required hospitalization.

Farms and feed stores were associated with another Salmonella outbreak that spread to 23 states, infecting 64 people, that same year.  Other points of contamination in that outbreak included a petting zoo and a classroom.  Some patients bought baby chicks at a feed store and others got them via mail order from a hatchery which shipped them for raising in the backyard.

Poultry is only part of the problem.  Other exotic animals, often kept as pets such as snakes, lizards, and turtles, are known to harbor the Salmonella bacteria, too.  People handling these animals or touching their cages need to be aware of the potential for infection.

The CDC is advising parents to not allow children 5 years old or younger to handle these animals and to be particularly wary of the adorable little chicks children often receive as Easter gifts and for similar occasions.  Anyone older than 5 needs to wash their hands with plenty of soap and warm water, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, after touching live poultry or other exotic pets or after coming in contact with their cages.

How long is 20 seconds?  Long enough to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ while scrubbing.