Sunday, May 17, 2026
An ongoing CDC outbreak has sickened families across 13 states, with young children hit hardest
The CDC is tracking a multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry, and more than a quarter of the people getting sick are children under 5.
Healthy-looking chicks and ducklings can still carry the germ, and some strains in this outbreak are showing resistance to common antibiotics.
With simple steps — supervised handling, no kisses or snuggles, and serious hand-washing — families can keep enjoying their flocks without a trip to the clinic.
Young children's immune systems are still developing, and little hands often go from feathers to faces. The CDC says children under 5 should not touch chicks, ducklings, or anything in their coop.
Salmonella lives naturally in poultry without making the bird sick. A clean-looking chick can still spread germs through droppings, feathers, and the bedding around it.
Soap and water for at least 20 seconds, every time after touching birds, eggs, or the coop area. Hand sanitizer is a backup, not a replacement.
The CDC is also tracking a separate Salmonella outbreak tied to pet veiled chameleons, with every patient under age 2. Reptiles aren't recommended as pets in homes with children under 5.
Diarrhea with fever, blood in the stool, persistent vomiting, signs of dehydration, or severe belly pain all deserve a same-day call to your pediatrician.
Spring well visits are a chance to ask one extra question: 'Any new pets or backyard animals at home?' Families with new chicks, ducklings, or reptiles often do not realize children under 5 are the highest-risk group. A short, non-judgmental conversation about supervision, hand-washing, and keeping animals out of food-prep areas — paired with the CDC backyard poultry handout — can prevent a stomach bug from becoming an ER visit.
Source: CDC backyard poultry outbreak update, May 2026 and AAP Red Book Online
