We are also being affected here in texas...
is it possible this could affect chickens and kill them? I am new to this and am curious how this could also affect chickens. Would it and could it be what is going on with the OP's chickens?
by MONIKA DIAZ
WFAA
Posted on August 22, 2010 at 4:44 PM
Updated Sunday, Aug 22 at 10:11 PM
News 8 has uncovered dozens of salmonella cases in North Texas, and recalled eggs are being pulled from local shelves.
That recall keeps growing now topping half a billion eggs.
The salmonella outbreak has sickened 1,300 people nationwide; 165 of them are in Texas, and that number is growing.
As investigators try to connect the dots, retailers are taking action.
Walmart stores all across Texas pulled thousands of egg cartons from their shelves this weekend.Workers removed three brands: Hillandale Farms, Dean Foods and Sparboe Farms in a nationwide recall possibly tied to a salmonella outbreak.
Other grocery chains in North Texas, including Albertsons and Tom Thumb, have not been affected by the recall. Nevertheless, some customers are keeping eggs out of their shopping carts for now.
"Just not going to get them until they come out and say everywhere, across the board, they are unaffected," said shopper Mallory Biegler.
In Texas, health officials started seeing a spike in salmonella cases three months ago. "Here's the issue: In terms of salmonella, it's [grown] fourfold in Texas a large number of increases," said Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson.
Investigators are now taking a look at 165 cases, 35 of which are in North Texas:
* 13 in Tarrant County
* 10 in Collin County
* 7 in Dallas County
* 5 in Denton County
"The seven are spread over Dallas County," Thompson said. "Three of them are going to be restaurants, the others are going to be from stores."
According to state health officials, all of the cases and the eggs tied to the recall share the same strain of salmonella, but but a direct link has not been established.
Investigators say tracking down the source will be difficult. They are still running lab tests, and results could be weeks away.
For now, health officials urge families to heed all recall alerts.
"It's important that if you are going to cook eggs, cook at the right temperature, and maintain them at the right temperature," Thompson said. "Above all, any egg products that are from the recall need to be taken back to the store immediately."
The two companies involved in the egg recall apparently share a feed supplier, and one bought young hens from the other.
Feed and chickens carrying the bacteria are two of the ways salmonella can spread.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially for children, the elderly or people with poor immune systems.
Symptoms of salmonella include fever, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.
