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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Monday that salmonella infections linked to backyard poultry have sickened at least 34 people across 13 states, including some infections that appear resistant to common antibiotics.
CDC officials said the cases were reported between Feb. 26 and March 31 and that 13 people required hospitalization. They said the patients ranged in age from 1 to 78, and that more than 40% of the sick people were children younger than 5.
The CDC said the illnesses were reported in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Officials said more illnesses in more states could be possible.
In interviews with sick people, CDC officials said nearly 80% reported contact with backyard poultry. Of those interviewed who owned backyard poultry, officials said more than 90% had obtained the birds since January, from various sources including agricultural retail stores, and that health officials are investigating where the animals came from.
CDC officials said bacteria from samples from the 34 sick people showed possible resistance to at least one drug used to treat salmonella infections. They said some samples also showed possible resistance to four other common antibiotics.
The CDC said infections that can’t be treated with antibiotics can result in serious illness or death. Officials also noted that certain groups are more likely to get sick from these germs, including young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
For prevention, CDC officials said people should wash hands after handling poultry, their food or items in their environment. The CDC also advised avoiding kissing or snuggling with backyard birds.
The CDC said it has investigated multiple salmonella outbreaks involving backyard poultry in recent years, including one in 2025 that sickened more than 500 people in 48 states, with 125 people hospitalized and two deaths.