Tennessee is part of salmonella outbreak linked to wild birds
JACKSON, Miss. – One Tennessean is among the 19 people in eight states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified as falling ill with salmonella linked to wild songbirds.
Mississippi, California, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington State were also listed as the other states where the particular outbreak affected a host of people aged 2 months to 89 years.
Contracting salmonella from these birds can happen by touching the fowl or a feeder or bird bath it has used. Once on unwashed hands, bacteria can sneak into the body if a person touches his or her mouth.
Nine of the sickened people reported owning a bird feeder. Two said they had contact with a sick or dead wild bird. Ten noted having pets that had access to or contact with wild birds, according to the CDC’S Thursday online investigation post.
Salmonella symptoms typically occur six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria, the CDC noted. It can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea and fever. However, most people can recover without treatment within a week.
Of the 19 people, eight had been hospitalized from the illness. No deaths have been reported.
“The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella,” the investigation post reads.
The CDC issued a reminder to not touch or hand-feed wild birds with bare hands. After touching a wild bird, feeder or bird bath, people should always wash their hands.
Hand-washing should also ensue in these circumstances:
● Immediately after touching a pet or pet’s supplies.
● Immediately after picking up pet’s feces, even if a bag is used.
● Before eating or drinking.
Bird baths and feeders should be scrubbed, using soap and warm water, once a week or when visibly dirty. Then, the bath and feeders should be submerged for 10 minutes in a solution using nine parts water and one part bleach. The CDC also recommends:
● If you find a sick bird, call the state wildlife agency.
● Keep pets away from bird feeders and bird baths.
● If there is a sick or dead bird in the yard, remove the feeder and bath for two weeks and clean them outdoors.