Maine is reporting an unusually high number of salmonella cases as a multistate outbreak linked to backyard poultry continues.
The Maine CDC says 30 people have been infected between April and July, including six who were hospitalized. State epidemiologist Stephen Combes said Maine sees poultry-related salmonella outbreaks every year, but this year’s case count is higher than normal.
Nationwide, the U.S. CDC has confirmed 814 cases across eight outbreaks, though officials believe many more infections go unreported.
Health officials say people can become infected by handling chickens, ducks, eggs or items in their environment and then touching their mouths. They urge backyard poultry owners to wash their hands thoroughly after contact and avoid touching their faces while caring for their flocks.
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