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Oregon Department of Agriculture

News
Don't let baby chicks cause health problems this Easter
4/20/2011
Image of two baby chicks.
Easter chicks, photo courtesy of Helen Nelson
State Vet advises parents to protect young children
 
Fluffy newborn chicks may be cute and cuddly, but the traditional Easter holiday icon can also lead to infectious disease, particularly affecting young children. That's why parents are once again advised this spring to use common sense and caution when it comes to letting youngsters handle baby poultry. The advice is simple- let children look but not touch the chicks and ducklings. And if children do handle them, make sure they wash their hands afterwards.

"It has been somewhat of a tradition in Oregon and elsewhere for some parents to buy baby chicks or ducklings around the Easter holiday," says State Veterinarian Don Hansen, administrator of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Animal Health and Identification Division. "The concern we have is for small children because they are not too careful about where they put their hands after they've handled animals."

That concern is echoed annually by Oregon Public Health officials who have seen infections from such pathogens as Salmonella traced back to handling small animals this time of year. In the past 15 years, baby chicks have been connected with seven Oregon disease outbreaks affecting at least 87 people. A third of those affected were children. In many cases, people were handling or kissing baby poultry that was being kept in their homes. More recently, a young Deschutes County child was diagnosed with Salmonella this month in a case that was linked to handling baby chickens.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever symptoms lasting three to seven days. Infants and immune-compromised individuals can develop more serious responses.

Oregon Public Health veterinarian Emilio DeBess has the same message as his ODA counterpart.

"Chicks, ducklings, and other fowl often carry Salmonella bacteria," he says. "They may not be appropriate gifts for children younger than 5 or for people with weakened immune systems because they are more susceptible to infection. If you do touch a chick, duck, or other baby bird, wash your hands so you don't get sick. Do not allow children to touch them."

Another concern is the contamination of surfaces that have come in contact with the baby poultry. Parents should also make sure to clean those surfaces right away. Keeping the animals outside is a better option if chicks or ducklings are brought home.

A relatively new trend in Oregon may lead to additional cases of disease outbreak. Many families are raising a small number of chickens at home, even in urban areas where backyard poultry is increasingly allowable. While most poultry owners raise the birds for meat and eggs, some consider them pets. That makes the disease concern with children a year around issue, not just at Easter.

"We are seeing an increase in people buying baby chicks with the intent of keeping them as laying hens for their own household," says ODA's Hansen.

The Centers for Disease Control note that baby chicks may be especially prone to shed germs that cause human illness. Young birds are often shipped several times before they reach someone's home. That adds stress on the birds and makes them more likely to shed bacteria in their droppings. Birds infected with Salmonella do not usually appear sick. Once the bacteria is shed, it can spread across the chick's body as the bird cleans itself and into the environment when the chick walks around.

While some Salmonella outbreaks nationwide have been associated with keeping baby chicks in a classroom setting, a larger percentage appear to involved young children and have taken place in the spring around the Easter holiday.

ODA has worked with feed stores and other venues where baby chicks are sold to provide some consumer education.

"If you go to a feed store and see a big tub of baby chicks, you will see signs posted telling customers to wash their hands and be cautious about picking up the chicks," says Hansen. "We have the same concerns about petting zoos, fairs, and shows. People should take precautions after handling the animals. Parents should make sure that kids wash their hands."

The warnings and advice do not imply that all baby chicks carry Salmonella and that handling any of them will make young children sick. The idea is to minimize the risk of spreading the disease if it is present.

Public health officials have summarized their advice on preventing Salmonella from being spread from poultry to humans- common sense tips supported by the State Veterinarian:
 
  • Wash hands after handling chicks or after coming into contact with areas where chicks are kept
  • Keep chicks penned in outside buildings
  • Do not eat or drink while handling chicks
  • Children under 5 should avoid contact with chicks. Other children should be supervised if they do handle chicks to ensure they don't place their hands, or objects that a chick has contacted, into their mouths
  • Immune-compromised people should avoid contact with chicks

Springtime and Easter should be an enjoyable time of the year. Reducing or eliminating the chance of spreading disease through contact with animals can keep it that way.

For more information, contact Dr. Don Hansen at (503) 986-4680.
 
 
 

Story of the Week pdf version
http://oregon.gov/ODA/docs/pdf/news/110420chicks.pdf

Audio Story of the Week
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/110420chicks_audio.shtml