A total of 224 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 34 states, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since the previous update (dated 10 May 2013), 78 new ill persons have been reported from Alabama (1), California (3), Colorado (8), Georgia (3), Illinois (1), Indiana (3), Iowa (3), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (2), Mississippi (1), Missouri (7), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (3), New York (7), North Dakota (4), Oregon (5), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (7), Utah (1), Washington (7), Wisconsin (2) and Wyoming (1).

This outbreak of human Salmonella Typhimurium infections is not related to the current outbreak of human Salmonella Infantis, Lille, Newport, and Mbandaka infections linked to live poultry.

Among the persons who reported the date they became ill, illnesses began between 4 March and 20 May 2013. Ill persons range in age from less than one year to 81 years, and 62 per cent of ill persons are 10 years of age or younger. Fifty-one per cent of ill persons are female. Among 141 ill persons with available information, 37 (26 per cent) have been hospitalised. No deaths have been reported.

Illnesses that occurred after 12 May 2013 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of two to three weeks.

Epidemiologic, laboratory and trace-back findings have linked this outbreak of human Salmonella Typhimurium infections to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live chicks purchased from multiple feed stores and sourced from multiple mail-order hatcheries.

For further details, visit the CDC web site, www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-live-poultry-04-13/index.html