Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Wild Songbirds In Washington: CDC

SEATTLE — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are warning Washingtonians to take care while touching bird feeders as they study a new outbreak of Salmonella infections.

According to the CDC, the outbreak has sickened six people in Washington, with one case each in Clark, King, Lewis, Kitsap, Spokane and Thurston counties. Three of those cases involved the patient going to the hospital.

The cases are part of a larger outbreak affecting 8 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. Including Washington's cases, there have been 19 illnesses, and eight hospitalizations logged thus far.

Investigators say they believe the outbreak is being spread by songbirds, and is making humans and birds sick alike. They warn that even healthy looking birds can carry Salmonella germs, and you can even get sick just from touching a bird feeder or bird bath. As a result, they're warning people to take several precautions if they feed or handle wild birds, including:

• Washing your hands immediately after touching a bird feeder, bird bath, or a bird itself.
  • This is necessary even if you wore gloves.
• Clean and disinfect bird feeders or bird baths weekly, or any time they are visibly dirty.
  • Try to clean feeders outside the home if possible. If it isn't, disinfect the indoor area right afterwards.
• Keep pets away from bird feeders and bird baths, plus the areas underneath them.
• Do not touch or hand-feed wild birds with your bare hands.
• If you find a sick or dead bird, contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  • Afterwards, remove any bird feeders and baths for two weeks and clean them thoroughly.

“You shouldn’t touch or hand-feed wild birds with your bare hands,” said Beth Melius, an epidemiologist with the Washington State Department of Health. “Cleaning your bird feeder or bird bath weekly or whenever it is dirty can help keep people and animals healthy. And, always wash your hands after touching your bird feeder or bird bath.”

People who are infected with Salmonella usually experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps sometime between six hours to six days after exposure. The sickness normally lasts between four and seven days, and usually does not require medical treatment, but can cause severe illnesses if it spreads from the intestines to the bloodstream. Children under five and adults 65 and older are more likely to have severe illnesses.