Outbreak of Salmonella Linked to Poultry Hatchery

A national outbreak of salmonella has been linked to poultry hatchery that sells live baby chickens, ducks and other poultry products by mail, according to USA Today.

State health officials told the USA Today that the live baby chickens, ducks and other poultry sold by mail are then supplied to feed stores.

According to the report, the state Department of Health found a strain of salmonella that infected more than 300 people 37 different states in a duck pen at Privett Hatchery in Portales.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the USA Today that there have been no reports of deaths but 51 people have already been hospitalized.

Children aged ten and below make up nearly three-fifths of those who have been hospitalized due to salmonella, the CDC told USA Today.

Paul Ettestad, state public health veterinarian informed the USA Today that hatchery was the most common source of the outbreak but there are no conclusions yet because federal officials found that those who were sickened with salmonella purchased baby poultry at 133 feed store locations supplied by 18 mail order hatcheries in various states.

According to the USA Today, the CDC is still conducting tests as of late.