Families and Flocks--How to Avoid Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause serious illness. One way people can become infected is through handling their backyard chickens. According to the Washington State Health Department, there have been 23 cases of salmonella in the state that have been linked to live poultry--the largest increase in several years. They add, "you can get the infection from a variety of sources, including eating contaminated food or drinking water, touching infected animals and not washing your hands. While anyone can get a Salmonella infection, children are especially at risk of illness because they are less likely to wash their hands and have more frequent hand-to-mouth contact than adults."

Check out this article by Dr. Rachel Wood, our Thurston County Health Officer, to learn more! It can be a great learning experience and a lot of fun to have a flock of your own, but there are important things to remember to protect yourself and your family from salmonella infection.