“Single mail-order hatchery in Ohio”

In 2011 that is how the CDC described a hatchery linked to 68 sickened with Salmonella Altona and 28 sickened with Salmonella Johannesburg.

“Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio”

In 2012 that is how the CDC described the “single mail-order hatchery in Ohio.”

One must wonder if the CDC had named “Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio” as the source of the 2011 outbreaks if the 2012 outbreak would have occurred at all.

060712-map.jpg2012 Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Lille Outbreak Investigation

As of June 10, 2012, a total of 123 persons infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Lille have been reported from 25 states.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (4), Delaware (1), Georgia (5), Illinois (1), Indiana (3), Kansas (1), Kentucky (5), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Maine (3), Michigan (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (16), North Carolina (12), Ohio (30), Pennsylvania (10), Rhode Island (1), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (8), Texas (2), Vermont (1), Virginia (6), and West Virginia (7).

Epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback findings have linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to exposure to chicks and ducklings from Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio. This is the same mail-order hatchery that was associated with the 2011 outbreak of Salmonella Altona and Salmonella Johannesburg infections. In May 2012, veterinarians from the Ohio Department of Agriculture inspected the mail-order hatchery and made recommendations for improvements.

100311map.jpg2011 Salmonella Altona Outbreak Investigation

As of October 4, 2011, a total of 68 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Altona were been reported from 20 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (6), Maryland (5), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), New Hampshire (1), New York (4), North Carolina (9), Ohio (12), Pennsylvania (6), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (3), Texas (2), Virginia (7), Vermont (1), Wisconsin (1), and West Virginia (4).

In May and June 2011, laboratory testing yielded Salmonella Altona bacteria from multiple samples: three samples from a chick and its environment collected from an ill person’s household in Ohio, three samples collected from chick and duckling displays at two locations of Feed Store Chain A in North Carolina, and three samples collected from a chicken and two ducks from an ill person’s household in Vermont. Findings of multiple traceback investigations of live chicks and ducklings from homes of ill persons identified a single mail-order hatchery in Ohio as the source of these chicks and ducklings. In June 2011, the Ohio Department of Agriculture inspected the mail-order hatchery and made recommendations for improvement.

2011 Salmonella Johannesburg Outbreak Investigation

As of October 4, 2011, a total of 28 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Johannesburg were reported from 15 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Georgia (2), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (2), Maine (1), New York (4), North Carolina (4), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (3), Vermont (2), and West Virginia (1).

In interviews, ill persons answered questions about contact with animals and foods consumed during the week before becoming ill. Seventeen (71%) of 24 ill persons interviewed reported contact with live poultry before becoming ill. Of ill persons who could recall the type of live poultry with which they had contact, 14 identified chicks, ducklings, or both, and 10 (71%) of 14 ill persons with available vendor information reported purchasing chicks and ducklings from multiple locations of the same nationwide agriculture feed store identified in the outbreak of Salmonella Altona infections, Feed Store Chain A. Findings of multiple traceback investigations of live chicks and ducklings from homes of ill persons identified the same single mail-order hatchery in Ohio identified in the outbreak of Salmonella Altona infections as the source of these chicks and ducklings. In June 2011, the Ohio Department of Agriculture inspected the mail-order hatchery and made recommendations for improvement.