A large, ongoing federal outbreak investigation links Salmonella illnesses across 43 states to contact with backyard chickens, ducks, and other poultry, and one in four people who have gotten sick is a child under five years old. As of June 8, 2026, the CDC has confirmed 513 people infected across 43 states and a U.S. territory, with 134 hospitalizations (35% of cases with available data) and one death in Washington state.
Summer intensifies the risk. Children spend more time outdoors and in direct contact with backyard birds. Warmer temperatures extend Salmonella's environmental persistence in poultry areas. The millions of chicks and ducklings purchased from agricultural retailers between January and April 2026 are now fully grown and actively shedding bacteria.
Why This Matters
Backyard poultry keeping has surged in popularity across the United States over the past decade, embraced for fresh eggs, sustainable living, and urban agriculture. What many families do not fully appreciate is that chickens and ducks carry Salmonella bacteria even when they appear healthy and clean. The bacteria do not make birds visibly ill. They spread through droppings, nesting areas, and surfaces, then transfer to human hands, clothes, shoes, and anything a child might touch in or near the flock area.
Children under five are at the center of this outbreak for a biologically straightforward reason: they are more likely to have close contact with birds, less likely to maintain consistent handwashing, and more vulnerable to severe Salmonella illness including hospitalization and bloodstream infections. The CDC has issued this same warning every year that backyard poultry outbreaks recur, and this year's numbers are among the most serious in recent memory.
An additional concern in 2026 involves antibiotic resistance. Laboratory testing of outbreak strains through whole genome sequencing has identified that some strains are resistant or not susceptible to antibiotics commonly used to treat severe Salmonella infections, including ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. This does not mean Salmonella cannot be treated, but it narrows treatment options for serious cases and underscores the importance of prompt medical evaluation for anyone who becomes severely ill.
What We Know So Far
The CDC is tracking five Salmonella strains in this outbreak: Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Mbandaka, and Saintpaul. The Saintpaul strain is the largest single cluster, linked to 133 patients. The Saintpaul outbreak notably involves an unusually high proportion of patients reporting contact with ducks, particularly Pekin ducks.
Of 196 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 84% obtained their birds since January 1, 2026, primarily from agricultural retail stores. Seven hatcheries have been linked to the outbreak strains through whole-genome sequencing of samples collected from poultry environments in Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio. No product recall has been issued as of the most recent update.
Illness onset dates in the outbreak range from January 20 to May 22, 2026, though newly diagnosed cases continue to be added as testing completes. The CDC notes that the true number of sick people is likely much higher than reported, as many people recover without seeking medical care and are never tested.
Where the Risk Is Highest
The outbreak spans 43 states, meaning risk is broadly distributed. However, states with the highest confirmed case counts in the investigation include Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, all states with large backyard poultry communities and early spring purchasing seasons at major agricultural retailers.
Within those states, the risk is most concentrated in households where children under five have direct contact with birds, where flock owners do not consistently wash their hands after handling birds or entering poultry areas, and where poultry are brought into living spaces. Washington state has reported the outbreak's only confirmed death.
What Doctors and Experts Say
"Children younger than 5 years old shouldn't handle the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or anything in the area where the birds live and roam," the CDC stated in its outbreak advisory. "They are more likely to get sick from Salmonella."
The agency emphasized that this guidance applies regardless of how clean the birds appear. Salmonella colonization is internal and invisible. Birds that look perfectly healthy and have been raised in clean conditions can still carry and shed the bacteria.
The antibiotic resistance pattern identified in 2026 outbreak strains is an important clinical note for physicians treating severe cases. When a child or adult requires antibiotic treatment for a serious Salmonella infection, health care providers should request culture and sensitivity testing before selecting a drug, particularly if the patient has known backyard poultry exposure.
What the Evidence Shows and What It Does Not
MedicalDaily Evidence Check
- Outbreak type: Active multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry contact (not a food product recall)
- Confirmed cases (June 8, 2026): 513 across 43 states
- Strains: Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Mbandaka, and Saintpaul
- Hospitalizations: 134 (35% of cases with data available)
- Deaths: 1 (Washington state)
- Children under five: Approximately 25% of all cases
- Antibiotic resistance: Some strains show resistance to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin
- No recall issued: The outbreak is linked to live animal contact, not a food product
- What it does not show: Whether case counts will continue rising through summer, which investigators consider likely based on seasonal patterns
- What readers should know: No recall means birds remain in households; prevention depends entirely on hygiene behavior, not product removal
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
Health officials say the highest-risk groups in this outbreak are:
- Children under five with direct contact with backyard poultry or their environments
- Older adults 65 and above, whose immune responses may be reduced
- Immunocompromised individuals, including people undergoing cancer treatment, those with HIV, and organ transplant recipients
- Pregnant people, in whom Salmonella infections can cause complications
- Anyone who kisses or snuggles live poultry, regardless of age
Healthy adults who maintain consistent handwashing after poultry contact face a significantly lower risk of severe illness, though they remain capable of getting sick.
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
Salmonella illness typically begins 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and can include:
- Diarrhea (which may be bloody)
- Fever
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without medical treatment. However, children under five, older adults, and immunocompromised people are at higher risk for severe illness, including Salmonella entering the bloodstream (bacteremia), which requires urgent medical treatment.
Seek medical care promptly if symptoms include a high fever above 102 degrees F, diarrhea lasting more than three days, bloody stool, signs of dehydration such as dry mouth and decreased urination, or severe abdominal pain. For infants and young children, dehydration from diarrhea can progress quickly. Do not delay seeking care if a child under five has frequent diarrhea and a fever.
What You Can Do Now
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching live birds, eggs, poultry equipment, or anything in the area where birds live or roam.
- Do not allow children under five to handle live poultry, including chicks and ducklings. Do not allow children of any age to kiss or snuggle birds.
- Keep poultry outside. Do not bring birds into the house, especially into kitchens or areas where food is prepared.
- Clean and disinfect poultry equipment outside, not indoors.
- Do not eat or drink in areas where poultry live and roam.
- If a child under five develops diarrhea and fever after contact with backyard poultry, contact a pediatric health care provider promptly and mention the poultry exposure.
- Change clothes after extended time in the poultry area before interacting with young children.
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
Salmonella diagnosis requires a stool culture ordered by a health care provider. Most insurance plans, Medicaid, and CHIP cover laboratory testing for gastrointestinal infections. For uninsured patients, many county and community health clinics offer low-cost evaluation and testing.
For severe cases requiring antibiotics, physicians should review current culture and sensitivity data given the antibiotic resistance patterns identified in the 2026 outbreak strains. Patients with symptoms severe enough to require hospital evaluation should mention backyard poultry contact upon arrival so care teams can order appropriate testing.
What Happens Next
The CDC's investigation remains open, and case counts are expected to continue rising through summer as more people with backyard flocks are exposed and tested. The agency updates its outbreak page as new cases are reported and linked. Investigators are working with the seven hatcheries linked to outbreak strains to identify and notify buyers. No product recall has been issued, and none is currently anticipated; the intervention is behavioral, not regulatory. MedicalDaily will monitor for updates, including any changes in case count, strain identification, or guidance for flock owners.
The Bottom Line
Backyard poultry are a real and ongoing Salmonella risk, especially for families with children under five. With 513 confirmed cases, 134 hospitalizations, and one death across 43 states, this is the CDC's largest active foodborne-illness-related outbreak investigation. Summer peak season means the case count is likely to grow. The single most protective action families with backyard flocks can take is rigorous handwashing after every poultry contact and keeping young children away from the birds entirely.
