Thursday, June 11, 2015

Hatchery’s chicks carry salmonella

An Alberta hatchery has been identified as the source of salmonella that has sickened at least 50 people across Western Canada.

The hatchery’s chicks were marketed by mail order through catalogues for Rochester Hatchery and Miller Hatcheries.

There have been 278 cases in Alberta, 18 in British Columbia, four in Saskatchewan and one in Manitoba.

Eight people have been hospitalized, and all individuals have recovered or are recovering. Individuals became sick between April 5 and May 30, 2015, and all have reported contact with live baby poultry including chicks, turkey poults and goslings.

Many individuals reported purchasing live poultry by mail-order or from feed supply storefronts for backyard flocks to produce eggs or meat.


Poultry varieties commonly reported include: broiler chickens, Cornish Giants, egg layers, dual-purpose breeds and turkeys.