Texas Chick Salmonella LawyerHandling baby chicks is one of the leading causes of salmonella poisoning in the United States, and yet many people are still unaware of the risk. Dozens of chick salmonella outbreaks have occurred since 1990, and young children are often the most severely affected.

Do I Have a Chick Salmonella Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured by salmonella poisoning after handling baby chicks, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Chick Salmonella lawsuit.

UPDATE

August 1, 2012 — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is warning that one chick hatchery in southwest Missouri has sickened 76 people in 22 states. At least 17 people have been hospitalized, many of them children.

Chick Salmonella

Hatcheries are common sources of salmonella. When a hen is infected with the salmonella bacteria, the egg she lays may also contain some bacteria. The egg is a dark, warm environment with plenty of food for the bacteria, and salmonella can easily proliferate inside an egg. If the egg is broken, contaminated egg fluid can be easily spread to other eggs, animals, humans, equipment, or the air. Once a hatchery becomes infected with salmonella, it can be extremely difficult to decontaminate the facility.

Who is at risk?

Anyone can get salmonella poisoning from handling chicks. The bacteria can be easily transmitted from the chick to the body when a person does not wash their hands properly, or if they touch the chick and then touch their face.

One common factor among chick salmonella outbreaks is that young children are disproportionately affected. The reason is because chicks are often purchased for the enjoyment of small children — in the classroom, around Easter, or in the backyard.

Unfortunately, children under 5 years old have a high risk of suffering a life-threatening salmonella infection. Other high-risk people include pregnant women, the elderly, and people who have weakened immune systems.

Experts recommend that high-risk populations, especially children under 5, should not touch baby chicks. Experts also recommend that everyone who does handle a baby chick should thoroughly wash their hands afterward.

Chick Salmonella Outbreaks

Handling baby chicks is one of the leading causes of salmonella poisoning. Since 1990, there have been at least 35 outbreaks of chick salmonella poisoning. The outbreaks are often traced back to mail-order hatcheries that sell chicks throughout the U.S. These hatcheries may also provide agricultural feed stores with chicks.

May 31, 2012 — A new study suggests that once a hatchery is contaminated with salmonella, it may be very difficult to eradicate it. The study highlights the case of one hatchery that has caused 316 salmonella poisonings across 43 states over an 8-year period. Decontamination efforts began in 2006, but the hatchery continued to cause salmonella poisonings.

May 25, 2012 — A chick salmonella outbreak tied to one Ohio hatchery has caused at least 93 illnesses across 23 states. These illnesses coincided with the Easter season, beginning in March 2012. Half of the people required hospitalization, and 37% were under 10 years old. One death may have been caused by the outbreak, but the situation is currently under investigation.

February – October 2011 — A total of 68 cases of chick salmonella poisoning were caused by Salmonella Altona, and 28 cases caused by Salmonella Johannesburg. The cases were spread across 24 states, and many of the victims were under 5 years old.

Symptoms of Chick Salmonella Poisoning

Symptoms of chick salmonella poisoning typically begin 8-72 hours after the animal was handled. The initial symptoms may be relatively benign — headache, abdominal cramps, and nausea. These symptoms are quickly followed by an urgent need to use the bathroom, and then diarrhea begins. The symptoms of diarrhea typically intensify over the next several hours, and they may include sudden episodes of watery, bloody stools. Nausea, severe abdominal cramps, and general feeling of illness are also common.

Most healthy people recover from salmonella poisoning within a couple days, or up to one week. It may take several months for normal gastrointestinal function to resume, depending on the severity of the illness. However, there is a risk that salmonella poisoning could cause a serious infection, dehydration, or death.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include:

  • Repeated diarrhea, which may be bloody or watery
  • Severe abdominal cramps
  • High fever
  • Dehydration
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract
  • Headache

Do I have a Chick Salmonella Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Chick Salmonella Lawsuit review.

Meet Your Attorney

Collen A. Clark

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

“Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

To contact Collen, please fill out the contact form below:

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