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Public Health Officials Caution Easter Events With Live Animals May Pose Salmonella Risk

Many Iowans will be attending Easter egg hunts and family gatherings this coming weekend, and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding people to be aware that some of these events may carry the risk of Salmonella exposure. This disease-causing bacteria is spread through contaminated food or by direct contact with animals, especially birds, and causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 72 hours of infection. According to the department, the number of households with backyard chicken flocks has grown in recent years, and contact with poultry does tend to increase around Easter. Several multi-state Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to exposure from types of events in the past. To reduce the risk of infections, public health officials recommend people avoid touching their face after handling live birds or washing the animals’ food and water dishes in the kitchen sink. They also encourage parents to refrain from allowing children under five years of age to handle chicks. For more information on Salmonella-risk from poultry, follow the link included with this story on our website.

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https://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellapoultry/index.html

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