US Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry
CDC reports 184 cases across 31 states, with one death recorded
15 May 2026
1 minute read
By: Three multistate outbreaks of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry contact are under active investigation, according to the CDC in a notice dated May 14, 2026. The case count has risen sharply, with 150 new infections bringing the total to 184, spanning 31 states, along with 53 hospitalisations and one death in a person from Washington state.
More than a quarter of those affected are children under five years old. The largest of the three outbreaks is notable for an unusually high proportion of cases reporting contact with ducks. Investigators have linked the outbreak strains to five hatcheries, and the CDC is working with state partners to notify those facilities, educate new poultry owners and limit further spread.
