Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Chicks

June 7, 2012 - PRLog -- 98 Salmonella illnesses in 2001 and now another 93 in 2012 have been linked to chicks from a single Ohio-based hatchery, Mt. Healthy Hatchery. The latest outbreak of illnesses is being attributed to three separate strains of the bacteria: Salmonella infantis, Salmonella newport, and Salmonella lille.

A report published last month now links a third Salmonella outbreak, spanning 2004 to 2011, has now been linked to the hatchery.

Across the United States, the increased popularity in raising your own chickens, as well as the presence of chicks at many fairs and petting zoos, has increased the public’s exposure to the animals. This increased presence has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to release a list of recommendations for dealing with chicks. Their biggest recommendation is not to allow children to handle the chickens, or to let the animals in your home.

According to the CDC’s website, “Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.”

“EMSL Analytical has the capabilities to test samples from the animals themselves, as well as environmental samples from their coops,” states EMSL’s National Food Microbiology Supervisor, Joy Dell’Aringa, M.S., R.M. (N.R.M.), C.F.S.P. “Our esteemed microbiology lab offers a wide variety of turn-around times for Salmonella and other harmful microbes at competitive pricing.”

For more information about EMSL’s food testing services, visit www.EMSL.com or www.foodtestinglab.com, call 1-800-220-3675, or e-mail info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies.