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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The other outbreaks occurred in Michigan and in Washington state.
"The CDC recommends that children under 5 years of age do not have contact with baby birds," Gaffga said. "If older children touch baby birds, they should wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds."
In addition, clothes, tables, bathtubs, floors -- anything the bird touches -- should be considered contaminated until they are properly cleaned, Gaffga said.
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Gaffga also noted that chicks that are dyed Easter colors are even less safe than un-dyed chicks. "Chicks are dyed to make them more attractive to children," he said. "Many states prohibit the sale of dyed chicks. This is to prevent them from being sold to children as pets."
Imperato said that while hand-washing can prevent the transmission of salmonella, it's not something easily monitored, especially among small children. "Parents should really avoid giving children baby chicks as pets," he said.
According to the CDC, salmonella is a bacteria that produces an infection called salmonellosis. Most persons infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment.
But for some, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites, and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness, the CDC said.
More information
For more on the health risks posed by baby chicks, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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