Key points
- Public health officials in several states are investigating 10 multistate outbreaks of Salmonella illnesses linked to contact with backyard poultry.
- Almost a quarter of the sick people in these outbreaks are children under 5 years old.
- The largest outbreak has an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks.
- Any backyard poultry can carry Salmonella germs that can make you sick. Always take steps to stay healthy around your flock.
When people got sick
This chart shows when the 1,061 people in these Salmonella outbreaks got sick.
Recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. The true number of sick people in this outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.
Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: April 23, 2026
Updated: August 27, 2026
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: August 27, 2026
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.