The CDC is tracking eight simultaneous Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry, and summer — the peak season for these outbreaks — is now underway.
As of June 25, 2026, the CDC has confirmed 513 cases across 43 states and a U.S. territory, with 134 hospitalizations and one death in Washington state. One in four of those sickened is a child under five years old.
Summer creates ideal conditions for these outbreaks to worsen. Children spend more time outdoors and in more frequent contact with backyard birds. Warmer temperatures increase Salmonella's environmental persistence in poultry areas. Spring hatching season brought millions of new chicks and ducklings into American homes between January and April — and those birds are now actively shedding bacteria.
The CDC's public health advisory for families with backyard flocks is unchanged: children under five should not handle live poultry or enter areas where birds roam.
Why This Matters
Backyard poultry keeping has grown dramatically over the past decade in the United States, driven by interest in fresh eggs, sustainable living, and urban agriculture. What many families underestimate is the consistent, documented health risk these birds carry — not because of any particular illness in the birds, but because Salmonella is a natural resident of poultry intestines, present in healthy birds with no visible signs.
The CDC's outbreak advisory states it clearly: "Backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can spread to people through direct or indirect contact with the birds or their environments."
Children under five are the most vulnerable group — their immune systems are less developed, they are more likely to engage in behaviors that increase exposure (touching birds, putting hands to mouths, handling eggs), and they face a higher risk of severe complications from Salmonella infection, including septicemia, meningitis, and death.
What We Know So Far
The CDC is simultaneously tracking five Salmonella strains linked to backyard poultry in 2026: Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Mbandaka, and Saintpaul. The Saintpaul strain represents the largest single outbreak cluster, linked to 133 patients.
The outbreak is concentrated in families who purchased birds recently: 84 percent of cases reporting poultry ownership obtained their birds since January 1, 2026, with most purchased from agricultural retail stores. The spring poultry purchasing season is the primary exposure window, and its effects are still being measured months later.
Seven hatcheries have been linked to the outbreak strains. The Saintpaul outbreak strain has been confirmed in livestock from those hatcheries, though no product recall has been issued. Unusually for Salmonella, some of the 2026 outbreak strains have shown resistance to antibiotics including fosfomycin and, in some samples, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline. This resistance means severe illness may be harder to treat with standard antibiotic choices.
One person — in Washington state — has died. Of 157 patients with Saintpaul who specified which poultry species they had contact with, 81 percent reported chicks or chickens and 50 percent reported ducks or ducklings.
Why Summer Worsens the Risk
Summer amplifies every vector of backyard poultry Salmonella exposure:
- More outdoor time means children spend more time in and around poultry areas.
- Higher temperatures increase Salmonella's survival and reproduction in the outdoor environment, meaning more bacteria on more surfaces.
- Water and feed containers that sit in warm conditions harbor higher Salmonella levels than in cooler months.
- Kids in and out of the house mean more opportunities to carry bacteria inside — particularly if handwashing is inconsistent.
- More social gatherings may involve children visiting properties with backyard birds for the first time.
What Doctors and Experts Say
The CDC's guidance for families with backyard poultry is explicit: children under five must not handle live birds or enter areas where birds roam. This includes chicks and ducklings — which are particularly popular with young children — as well as adult chickens, ducks, geese, and other poultry.
The CDC's own language in its outbreak advisory is unambiguous: "Don't let children younger than 5 years old handle the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or spend time in areas where the birds live and roam. Young children are more likely to get sick from Salmonella."
For the rest of the family, handwashing is the single most important prevention measure: wash hands with soap and water immediately after any contact with birds, their eggs, their enclosures, or their supplies.
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
- Children under five — the highest-risk age group in this outbreak
- Adults 65 and older
- Pregnant women
- Immunocompromised individuals
- Anyone who lets birds inside the home or brings poultry supplies into the kitchen
Symptoms and When to Seek Care
Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps beginning 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. Most healthy adults recover in 4 to 7 days without medical treatment.
Seek medical care promptly if:
- A child under five develops diarrhea, fever, or abdominal cramping after any poultry contact
- Diarrhea contains blood
- Fever exceeds 102°F
- Symptoms of severe dehydration develop (dry mouth, no urination, dizziness)
- Diarrhea persists more than five days in any age group
Severe Salmonella can spread from the gut to the bloodstream — a life-threatening complication that requires hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.
What You Can Do Now
- Do not allow children under five to handle any poultry — chicks, ducklings, chickens, ducks, or any live bird — or enter areas where birds roam.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds immediately after any contact with birds, eggs, supplies, or the poultry area. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Keep all poultry outside the home. Do not bring birds inside for warmth, pictures, or entertainment.
- Keep all poultry equipment — boots, feeders, waterers, cleaning brushes — outside and away from kitchen areas.
- Do not kiss birds or hold them near your face.
- Collect eggs frequently and refrigerate promptly. Discard cracked eggs.
- If a child who has had poultry contact develops diarrhea with fever, contact your pediatrician and mention the exposure.
Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know
Salmonella diagnosis requires stool culture or laboratory testing ordered by a physician — covered by most insurance plans. For uninsured patients, community health centers and urgent care clinics can evaluate and test for Salmonella. Antibiotic treatment may be warranted for severe illness or high-risk patients — note that some 2026 outbreak strains show antibiotic resistance, so laboratory sensitivity testing is important for treatment decisions.
What Happens Next
The CDC will continue updating case counts. The eight simultaneous outbreaks are expected to remain active through summer and into fall, as the spring-purchased birds continue to mature and as summer exposure continues. MedicalDaily will report on updated case counts and any changes to CDC guidance.
The Bottom Line
Summer is peak season for backyard poultry Salmonella — and with 513 cases, 134 hospitalizations, and 1 death already confirmed in 2026, this outbreak is active and likely to grow before it slows. The single most important rule has not changed: children under five must not handle live poultry. Handwashing after any bird contact is mandatory for everyone else. If a child develops symptoms after poultry exposure, contact your pediatrician that day.
