Your Health Matters
By Claudia Parks, R.N.

Easter is upon us and so is the threat of Salmonella carried by those sweet and cuddly looking baby chicks and ducklings often given to children as springtime gifts. Because they are so soft and cute, many people do not realize the potential danger to small children- especially under age five.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 81 people in 22 states fell ill last spring (2006) after contracting Salmonella from chicks and ducklings. The record three outbreaks occurred around Easter, and some of the cases were believed to stem from birds given as gifts. (These were the ones reported- you can figure twice as many or more cases not reported!)

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that in most people causes stomach pain, diarrhea, fever and vomiting- that starts 1 to 3 days after they ingest the bacteria. TheSalmonella bacteria live in the intestines of chickens/ducks and spread through their feces, which can cling to a bird's feet or feathers, even if it looks clean. It is difficult to know if chicks are carrying Salmonella because they will not usually show signs of illness.

Children can be exposed to the bacteria by simply holding, cuddling, or kissing the birds. Children are most susceptible to infection because they are more likely than others to put their fingers into their mouths and because their immune systems are still developing. Others at increased risk include persons with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women, the elderly and other immunocompromised persons.

Diagnosis is obtained from a culture of Salmonella from the stool. Treatments are usually supportive, consisting of fluid therapy and pain relief. Antibiotics should only be used to treat severe cases of illness because antibiotics may prolong the disease and many strains of Salmonella are resistant to antibiotics. Occasionally, infections are so severe that people must be hospitalized.

Some Do's and Don'ts: (1) Do NOT purchase live animals as Easter gifts. Give toy stuffed animals instead. (2) Do not let children under 5 years of age handle baby chicks or other young birds. Keep them from coming into contact with packages in which chicks or ducklings arrive. (3) If anyone touches the chicks or ducklings or their environment, make sure that they wash their hands (for at least 20 seconds) immediately afterwards. Pacifiers, toys, bottles or other objects should not touch the baby birds or their enclosures. If these objects do become contaminated, wash them with warm soapy water. (4) Do not allow anyone to eat or drink while interacting with birds or their environment. Keep the bird area separate from areas where food and drink are prepared or consumed. Do not allow chicks or ducklings on table surfaces or places where food will be prepared or eaten.

At this time the federal government has no restrictions concerning the sale of chicks and ducklings. Some state governments have recognized the risk of Salmonella to young children and have passed restrictions for pet stores and local agencies that prohibit the sale of baby chicks around Easter. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia ban the sale of birds that have been dyed. Health departments in Oregon and Washington have asked feed stores to display warnings and offer educational materials to people who buy baby birds.

Much of this information is from educational material provided by the CDC. To help you better understand just what the CDC and the FDA and USDA are responsible for- here is a brief explanation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- world headquarters is located in Atlanta. The CDC monitors human health by disease surveillance and by assisting states in outbreak investigations. CDC's scientific investigations may define new problems, areas in need of more research. They have a division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases and conduct surveillance for foodborne diseases- assisting local and state health departments in their response to outbreaks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulate the safety of the food supply. They inspect food products, promulgate and enforce food safety regulations, test suspect foods and work with industry to improve safety practices. The FDA is responsible for non-meat products and the USDA oversees meat, poultry and processed egg products. Check their web pages for oodles of information. www.cdc.gov www.fda.gov www.usda.gov

Claudia Parks, RN, is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains. You may contact Claudia at yhm@windstream. net