CDC Reports Outbreak of Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella Linked to Backyard Chickens in 13 States

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 01:06:00 +0200

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about an ongoing outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella bacteria connected to backyard poultry across the United States. As of April 23, 2026, officials have identified 34 illnesses in 13 states, with 13 hospitalizations reported among 27 cases that had available details. No deaths have occurred so far. The outbreak, which began in late February, involves a strain of Salmonella that shows resistance to fosfomycin in all tested patient samples. In eight cases, the bacteria also demonstrated resistance to additional antibiotics, including chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline. Health experts note that backyard chickens and other poultry commonly carry Salmonella without showing symptoms, and humans can become infected by touching the birds, their eggs, coops, or equipment and then touching their mouth or food. The actual number of infections is likely much higher since many people do n