Many people love keeping ducks and chickens as pets. They show their affection by kissing the poultry, but this love could lead to adverse impacts. It has been reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that at present, a Salmonella outbreak is occurring in over 35 states, and until now, nearly 200 cases have been reported.

According to CDC, “Many ill people in these outbreaks reported bringing the live poultry into their homes and others reported kissing or cuddling with the live poultry. These behaviors increase a person’s risk of a Salmonella infection”.

Salmonella could be obtained by consuming roughly prepared, raw or poorly cooked meat for example from poultry. It has been found by CDC that most of the people who obtained the bacteria were in close contact with the carriers.

It was found in the investigations that those who contracted the infection were owners of chickens, ducks, or turkeys that were bought from local farms and market of farmers.

After that they had a closer physical contact with the animals; they kissed, cuddled or even hugged them. They did that the way an owner treats a pet at least a week prior to contracting the infection. However, that doesn’t suggest that homeowners should not breed or raise them at their homes.

According to CDC, people should take preventive measures to considerably lower the risks. One should take care that those children who are five years old and below do not get close to these animals.