Key facts (2026 outbreak, as of 8 Jun 2026 per CDC)
- 513 people infected across 43 states; about 35% hospitalized; 1 death.
- ~1 in 4 cases are children under 5.
- Source: contact with live chicks, ducklings and adult poultry.
- Birds look healthy while shedding Salmonella.
Every spring and summer, a wave of Salmonella illnesses follows the purchase of live chicks and ducklings from feed stores, hatcheries and mail order. As of the CDC update on 8 June 2026, outbreak strains had sickened 513 people across 43 states, with about 35% hospitalized and one death; roughly a quarter of those affected are children under 5. The birds carry Salmonella in their intestines and shed it while looking perfectly healthy and clean.
How people get sick
Infection follows touching birds or their environment — coops, feeders, bedding — and then the mouth or face; kissing or snuggling poultry; or letting birds inside the home. Children are especially exposed. Symptoms include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, stomach cramps and vomiting, usually starting 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and lasting about 4 to 7 days.
Who’s most at risk
Children under 5, adults 65+, pregnant people and the immunocompromised are more likely to develop severe or invasive illness. Compare Salmonella with other common gut bugs:
How to reduce your risk (CDC)
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching poultry or anything in their area.
- Don’t kiss or snuggle birds, and don’t touch your face afterward.
- Keep poultry out of the house, especially kitchens.
- Supervise children; don’t let kids under 5 handle chicks or ducklings.
- Use dedicated shoes and clothing for the coop, and buy from hatcheries that follow Salmonella-reduction practices.
Salmonella on a GI-MAP stool report
GI-MAP includes a Salmonella target on its bacterial pathogen panel. Molecular detection is different from growing living bacteria in culture: a positive result does not identify the meal or animal responsible, show whether infection has spread beyond the intestine, or select an antibiotic. An undetected result does not rule out every cause of diarrhea. DSL methodology
Salmonella can remain in stool after symptoms improve. Bring the full result and your symptom timeline to your clinician. The CDC recommends follow-up culture after a positive culture-independent test to obtain an isolate for susceptibility testing. Antibiotics are appropriate for selected patients, not automatically for every positive result. CDC clinical overview
For bloody diarrhea, dehydration or severe illness, seek medical care without waiting for an at-home kit. Persistent symptoms also deserve clinical assessment; a microbiome panel cannot by itself diagnose post-infectious IBS or prove that the gut has recovered. See our marker library to understand other entries on the report.
Result explanation updated October 7, 2026; medical review of this addition is pending.
Frequently asked questions
How do people get Salmonella from backyard poultry?
Birds carry it in their intestines and shed it while looking healthy. People get sick after touching birds or their environment and then their face, or by kissing/snuggling poultry.
What are the symptoms?
Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, cramps and vomiting, starting 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and lasting about 4 to 7 days.
Who is most at risk?
Children under 5, adults 65+, pregnant people and the immunocompromised.
Does GI-MAP test for Salmonella?
Yes — it includes a Salmonella target. A clinician should interpret a positive result and decide whether follow-up culture is needed. Seek care for acute severe illness.
Sources & further reading
- CDC — Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry (2026).
- CDC — Salmonella (salmonellosis).
- Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory — GI-MAP test overview & methodology.