With backyard poultry projects becoming more popular, animal educators are cautioning residents to resist the urge to kiss chickens.
According to Penn State Extension, officials with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have released their annual Salmonella and Poultry Report about the dangers of this illness.
Salmonella bacteria occur naturally in many species and a completely healthy looking bird may be a carrier of salmonella without any obvious signs of disease. Symptoms of salmonella can include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, vomiting, and headache with children under 5, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems at highest risk.
Penn State Extension emphasizes that poultry are not house pets and recommends chickens be kept outside of the home away from food preparation areas. Coops should be cleaned and disinfected regularly while wearing clothes and shoes used only for that purpose.
According to the CDC, over 1,700 cases of Salmonella were reported last year linked to poultry raised in backyards including over 300 that required hospitalization and one death.