Chicks

  • Cute birds outbreak grows to 71 with Salmonella in 16 states

    Posted: June 30th, 2011 - 7:28am by Doug Powell

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that 71 people –more than half children under 5-years-old – have been sickened with Salmonella Altona or Salmonella Johannesburg from handling chicks or ducklings, that have been traced back to the same mail-order hatchery in Ohio.

    Reuters reported the implicated business was Mt. Healthy Hatchery, which supplies chicks and ducklings to an unnamed nationwide agricultural feedstore.

    As of June 27, 2011, a total of 49 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Altona have been reported from 16 states and a total of 22 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Johannesburg have been reported from 12 states. Ill persons reported purchasing live poultry for either backyard flocks to produce eggs or as pets.

    The complete CDC investigation update is available at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/altona-baby-chicks/062911/index.html
     

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    Salmonella  |  1 Comment
    Cdc, Chicks, Ducklings, food safety, Outbreak, salmonella
  • Cute birds sicken 39 with salmonella in 15 states

    Posted: June 10th, 2011 - 6:24am by Doug Powell

    Baby chicks and ducklings may be fun to play with, especially for little kids, but they are also sources of salmonella.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that 39 people –almost half children under 5-years-old – have been sickened with Salmonella Altona from handling chicks or ducklings, that have been traced back to the same mail-order hatchery in Ohio.

    Reuters reported the implicated business was Mt. Healthy Hatchery, which supplies chicks and ducklings to an unnamed nationwide agricultural feedstore.

    CDC reports among the persons with dates available, illnesses began between February 25, 2011 and May 23, 2011. Infected individuals range in age from less than one-year-old to 86-years-old and 44 percent of ill persons are 5 years of age or younger.

    The complete CDC investigation update is available at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/altona-baby-chicks/060911/index.html
     

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    Chicks, Ducklings, mail order, salmonella altona
  • Women fart, and that's extra cool in New Zealand

    Posted: February 21st, 2009 - 9:53pm by Doug Powell

    First it was Jamie Lee Curtis flogging Activia yoghurt, and its, uh, ability to restore digestive regularity.

    Now New Zealand brewer Tui has shattered one of the great myths of the sexes, with a billboard that reads, "Chicks never fart. Yeah, right.”

    A survey of almost 600 women was carried out by Anchor's low-fat probiotic yoghurt brand Symbio, which is promoting a 14-day programme to reduce digestive problems.

    The company says the programme - run through www.abetteryou.co.nz - has already registered 10,000 people.

    The study of digestive health has found that 45 per cent of women experienced gas at least two to three times a week, but only 12 per cent of women are likely to tell their friends they're experiencing some sort of discomfort, even though three-quarters feel embarrassment when it strikes during social situations.

    Sue McCarty, chief executive of the Auckland-based Via finishing school, said it was a "complete myth women don't pass wind."

    For those suffering, her advice was: Better out than in. She said women here had less to be concerned about. "We're in New Zealand, remember. Lots more things are acceptable here than in other cultures."
     

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    Wacky and Weird  |  0 Comments
    Chicks, Fart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Snl, Tui, Women, Yoghurt
  • 7 salmonella cases in Minn. linked to handling baby chicks, ducklings

    Posted: June 5th, 2008 - 1:13pm by Doug Powell

    The Star Tribune is reporting that seven illnesses have been reported in Minnesota among people who have handled baby chicks or ducklings, the state Health Department reported this morning.

    The cases of salmonellosis occurred from late March through late May, the department said, adding that those falling ill were ages 5 months to 70 years old.

    Two people, the 5-month-old and a 42-year-old, required hospitalization for a few days.

    Dr. Joni Scheftel, the department's public health veterinarian, said,

    "In a typical year, a handful of the approximately 700 salmonella infections diagnosed in Minnesotans are linked to contact with chicks and ducklings."
    The Health Department offered these guidelines to avoid infection:

    • Do not let children less than 5 years of age handle poultry.

    • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling poultry or their droppings.

    • Do not eat or drink around poultry or their living areas.

    • Do not let poultry live inside a home.

    • Do not wash the birds' food and water dishes in the kitchen sink.

    Same thing happened last year, and pretty well every other year.

    And don't kiss pet turtles, no matter how emotionally deprived you are as a child.





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    Salmonella  |  0 Comments
    Chicks, Ducklings, Pets