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The CDC has declared over a Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry, reporting 1,253 infections across 46 states and Puerto Rico. The outbreak caused 256 hospitalizations and two deaths; the agency identified eight hatcheries that sold infected birds but has not named them.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared over a Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry flocks, after 1,253 people were reported infected across 46 states and Puerto Rico. The outbreak resulted in 256 hospitalizations and two deaths, and investigators identified eight hatcheries that sold infected birds.
Patients were infected with outbreak strains of seven Salmonella types: Altona, Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Kedougou, Mbandaka and Saintpaul. About one-third of reported patients were hospitalized. One in five was younger than 5; ages ranged from under 1 to 99, with a median age of 36.
Most patients or their caregivers said the chicks or ducklings had been purchased at agricultural retail stores. Others obtained birds from acquaintances, hatcheries or local farms. The CDC said eight hatcheries were identified as having sold infected birds, but did not publicly identify them in the source report.
Investigators in Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee sampled backyard poultry and the interiors of boxes used to ship live birds to retail stores. Whole genome sequencing found that Salmonella Enteritidis, Mbandaka, Kedougou and Saintpaul from those samples matched strains found in sick people. The CDC also reported that some patient isolates showed antibiotic resistance.
The Outbreak’s Toll and Reach
The case count makes this the second-largest backyard poultry Salmonella outbreak recorded by the CDC, according to the supplied report. The largest was in 2020, with 1,722 reported illnesses. The 2026 outbreak’s reach across 46 states and Puerto Rico, alongside two deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations, shows the scale of the public health impact.
The reported count is not a measure of every infection. The CDC estimates that for each confirmed Salmonella case in an outbreak, 29 cases may go undetected, because some people do not seek medical care and others are not tested specifically for Salmonella. That estimate indicates the official total likely understates the number of illnesses, but it does not establish a precise total for this outbreak.
Antibiotic resistance adds another concern for health officials. The CDC’s sequencing found resistance to several medicines among patient isolates, and predicted nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin in some samples. These findings describe laboratory results; the report does not say that every patient had a resistant infection or provide individual treatment outcomes.
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From April Report to Closure
The CDC first reported the outbreak on April 13, 2026, when 34 patients in 13 states had been identified and 13 had been hospitalized. At that time, illnesses were reported to have begun on February 26. The case count later grew to 1,253 across 46 states and Puerto Rico.
The 2026 count follows several years in which reported backyard poultry outbreaks varied substantially. The supplied report lists 470 cases in 2024 and 559 in 2025, compared with 1,253 in 2026. It records 1,722 cases in 2020, the highest total in the period shown. These figures are reported outbreak counts by year; they do not establish why the totals changed.
Investigators connected human infections to backyard birds using interviews and genetic comparisons between Salmonella from patients and samples associated with poultry or shipping boxes. The matching strains support the outbreak link, while the available report does not identify each hatchery or explain how contaminated birds entered the supply chain.
“The outbreak has been declared over.”
— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The supplied report does not name the eight hatcheries identified by investigators, nor does it describe any regulatory action taken against them. It also does not detail how contamination occurred or whether additional distribution points were involved.
The 1,253 figure counts reported, confirmed infections, not every illness. The CDC’s estimate that many cases go undetected cannot be used to calculate an exact outbreak total. The report also does not provide further detail about the circumstances of the two deaths or the health status of individual patients.
Resistance findings were reported for patient isolates, but the source material does not specify whether resistant infections affected clinical care or outcomes. It lists laboratory findings, including 185 isolates predicted nonsusceptible to ciprofloxacin, without a patient-by-patient breakdown.
Routine Prevention Remains Key
The CDC’s declaration closes the outbreak investigation status described in the source report. It does not announce a new case count or a specific next investigative milestone. The report does not say whether the agency plans to release the names of the hatcheries.
People who keep backyard poultry should continue following safe handling practices. The CDC advises washing hands with soap and water after touching birds, eggs, or anything in their environment; keeping poultry and their equipment outside the home; and supervising children around birds. Salmonella can spread even when birds appear healthy, so limiting contact with poultry areas and avoiding eating or drinking around birds remain sensible precautions.
Key Questions
How many people were reported infected?
The CDC reported 1,253 infections across 46 states and Puerto Rico. The total covers confirmed, reported cases and may not include everyone who became ill.
How many people were hospitalized or died?
The outbreak resulted in 256 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to the source report.
Which hatcheries were linked to the outbreak?
Investigators identified eight hatcheries that sold infected birds. The supplied report says the CDC did not name them.
Does the end of the outbreak mean backyard poultry is risk-free?
No. The declaration applies to this outbreak. Backyard poultry can carry Salmonella even when birds look healthy, so handwashing and keeping birds and their equipment outside living areas remain important.
Source: rss
