Hundreds more people have been sickened and dozens more hospitalized with an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria being linked to backyard chickens.
In April, the CDC warned of an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul among people who reported contact with backyard poultry.
When first reported, there were 34 people sickened and 13 hospitalized across 13 states. An update from May reported 184 total cases, 53 total hospitalizations and one death across 31 states.
In the latest update, published Wednesday, there were 513 total cases, 134 total hospitalizations and one death across 42 states and Puerto Rico.
The CDC is now collecting more data to investigate the multistate outbreak of several strains of Salmonella, in addition to Saintpaul, including Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis and Mbandaka.
So far, data and contact tracing ‘show that contact with backyard poultry is making people sick.’
In the largest cluster among the outbreak, the CDC said there is ‘an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks.’
Salmonella infections trigger diarrhea and stomach cramps within six hours to six days of infection, and symptoms normally resolve on their own within four to seven days.
Health officials say there are 513 total cases, 134 total hospitalizations and one death across 43 states in connection to a salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry
However, in those most at risk, including children under five and adults over 50, the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and cause the potentially fatal complication sepsis.
Doctors treat the infection with antibiotics, but, in cases where the bacteria are resistant, it severely limits options and raises risks of serious complications.
While cases have continued to rise since the first notice, the CDC noted: ‘The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.’
Not everyone infected with Salmonella receives treatment or testing for the bacteria.
Illnesses in connection to the outbreak range from January 20, 2026 to May 22, 2026.
Michigan is reporting the most cases, at 57, followed by Kentucky with 55. Ohio has the third-highest case count with 48, followed by Wisconsin at 31 cases and Washington state with 24.
The death was reported in a person from Washington.
Ages of the patients range from less than one year old to 99 years old.
Of 391 people who have been interviewed, 306 reported contact with backyard poultry.
Among the 157 patients with Salmonella Saintpaul who reported poultry contact, 127 reported contact with chicks or chickens and 79 reported contact with ducklings or ducks.
Of 42 patients with information available about the breed of duck, 27 specified Pekin ducks.
Additionally, of the 196 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 165 purchased or obtained poultry since January 1 from various places, mostly agricultural retail stores.
The CDC said investigators are still collecting information about where the sickened people obtained their poultry, including stores and hatcheries.
Investigators in Idaho, Minnesota and Ohio collected samples from backyard poultry and inside poultry boxes, which revealed that the Salmonella Enteritidis, Mbandaka, and Saintpaul strains in those samples were the same strains as those found in sick people.
So far, the outbreak strains of bacteria have been linked to seven hatcheries and the CDC is working to investigate any further links to upstream suppliers.
Sequencing of the bacteria from 513 human, 11 animal and 29 environmental samples predict that some of the strains of salmonella involved in the outbreak are resistant to common antibiotics used in treatment.
The above map shows the location and number of salmonella cases linked to backyard poultry
Of the samples taken, 326 were predicted to be resistant to fosfomycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic often used to treat salmonella infections.
Additionally, 267 of the samples were also found to be resistant to one or more other common types of antibiotics.
Health officials have urged people who have contact with poultry to wash their hands with soap and water immediately after touching the birds, their eggs or anything in the area where they live or roam.
People have also been urged not to kiss poultry, not to eat or drink around them and to ensure children are always supervised with birds and wash their hands properly afterwards.
Those who believe they were sickened in the outbreak have been urged to contact their health provider.
Chickens and other poultry often carry salmonella in their intestines and do not show any symptoms.
They can spread the bacteria via their feces, contaminated feathers and eggs.
Humans may pick up the bacteria after holding backyard poultry or touching their eggs or living spaces.
Health officials said: ‘Backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean.
‘These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam.’
