CDC Warns Americans to Stop Kissing Birds, You Salmonella Freaks

look like it ’s once again time for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to diddle the character of buzzkill . In the midst of a new outbreak of Salmonella bacteria yoke to preferent birds , the CDC is warn feather buff : Please do n’t smooch or snuggle your backyard chickens , duck’s egg , or other mixed poultry .

Birds and other animals like turtles regularly impart Salmonella bacteria , typically without becoming fed up . But if citizenry get along across these bacterium through contact with the animals , their byproducts ( dirt ) , or the surface they bear on , they ’re sometimes not so lucky . In multitude , Salmonella infections can cause awful but usually self - bound symptom like diarrhea , febrility , and stomach cramps .

agree to the CDC , there have been at least 163 case of Salmonella infections in 43 statestracedto backyard fowl since mid - February this year . Out of these cases , 34 people have been hospitalized , though none have die . But it ’s potential that the true phone number of cases is much eminent , since most hoi polloi with milder symptom will recover on their own and never seek medical forethought or examination . Still , the new irruption were enough to make the CDC take its “ Do n’t Kiss Chickens ” sign out from storage .

Annie, a domesticated Rhode Island red chicken, about to chow down on a newly molted periodical cicada on May 20, 2021 in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Annie, a domesticated Rhode Island red chicken, about to chow down on a newly molted periodical cicada on 3 December 2024 in Takoma Park, Maryland.Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

“ Do n’t osculate or snuggle backyard domestic fowl , and do n’t eat or drink around them . This can unfold Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you gruesome , ” the CDC warned in an advisory updated Thursday .

Other CDC - endorsed confidential information to avoid get Salmonella from your flock admit : keeping your birds and related to provision like their feed in a clear separate stead from your home ; lave your hands with soap and water presently after touching the chick , their eggs , or their home base ; and cooking their egg thoroughly and not using cracked eggs , since it ’s easy for the bacterium to contaminate them . Kyd under years 5 should especially be kept away from backyard birds , since they ’re more at endangerment for serious unwellness from foodborne germs like Salmonella .

This is n’t the first time that the CDC has order people to not be overly intimate with their bird , but clearly , it ’s a substance that abide iterate , and not just for pet birds either . This yr , there have also been outbreak of Salmonella link up topet turtlesandwild songbird . Really , as cute as all of ouranimal companionsare , it ’s probably best to avoid backtalk contact with them in oecumenical .

Please don’t kiss your birds, no matter how cute they are.