A nationwide salmonella outbreak caused by backyard poultry has a link to Santa Barbara County, with a case surfacing in the county. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reports the patient has recovered.
Backyard poultry like chicken and ducks can carry the bacterial infection, even if they look healthy. It occurs in poultry manure. People can become infected if they come in contact with the waste, and then touch their mouth, or food with unwashed hands.
Most people recover without treatment, but in rare cases it can cause serious illness.
People are being advised to wash their hands after touching backyard poultry, not to snuggle the birds, and not to eat or drink around them. More than 400 salmonella cases have been reported in 45 states during this new outbreak.
