Oregon health officials urge: Don’t give baby chicks

As Easter approaches with the arrival of spring, some people buy baby chicks to give as gifts, but Oregon Health Authority infectious disease experts cautioned Tuesday against this practice because these cute, fuzzy birds can carry salmonella bacteria.

They say that because of their size and cuteness, children often pick up the baby birds, hold them close to their faces and even kiss them. And children often don’t wash their hands after handling the chicks.

“We know that adult chickens, ducks and other live poultry carry Salmonella bacteria, and that means their offspring can carry it as well,” says Emilio DeBess, DVM, state public health veterinarian in the Oregon Health Authority’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Section.

Since 2010, 11 outbreaks of illnesses caused by salmonella bacteria from baby chicks have occurred in Oregon, affecting at least 72 cases of salmonellosis. Forty-three percent of the cases were children, DeBess said. The last major salmonellosis outbreak, in 2017, occurred after people handled, kissed and kept poultry inside the home.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever symptoms lasting three to seven days, DeBess said. Anyone with compromised immune systems, the very young and elderly people could become very ill and die of the infection.

“Baby chicks really are not appropriate Easter gifts,” DeBess said. “Children younger than 5 can get very sick from Salmonella contamination because their immune systems at that age are not fully developed.”

Many people purchasing baby poultry also don’t realize the responsibility involved with raising chicks and ducklings as the animals grow up. The birds require space to roam and food to eat, which can get expensive. As a result, they often are abandoned after they become adult chickens and ducks.

Tips for preventing salmonella infection from baby poultry:

— Don’t give live baby birds to children. Instead, give stuffed animals.

— Always wash hands with soap and water, and thoroughly clean surfaces after handling any animal or coming in contact with animal waste.

— Keep chicks in an appropriate outdoor area.

— If chicks are handled, never nuzzle or kiss them.

— Never allow poultry inside the home.

For more information about baby birds and Salmonella, visit the OHA Salmonella webpage at http://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/CommunicableDisease/Pages/FS-Baby-birds-and-Salmonella.aspx.

Additional information:

— Biosecurity for Birds (USDA): https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian-influenza-disease/birdbiosecurity

— Keeping Backyard Poultry: http://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellapoultry/

— Gastrointestinal (Enteric) Diseases from Animals (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/zoonotic/gi/

— CDC publications and materials: http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/publications/index.html