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.
