ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — More than 180 people have gotten sick with salmonella connected to backyard poultry, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — including four in Georgia.

Thirty-one U.S. states have reported at least one person sick, and the true number may be much higher, the CDC said. More than a quarter of those sick are under 5 years old.

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Five states — Idaho, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky and Maine — have reported more than ten confirmed cases. The CDC says it has linked the situation back to five hatcheries, and the largest outbreak has an “unusually high” number of people who had contact with ducks.

Georgia is the No. 1 state for poultry production. If you own poultry, the CDC recommends the following steps:

• Keep all birds and their supplies outside.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after touching birds or collecting eggs.
• Dedicate a pair of shoes for your coop and don’t wear them inside the house.
• Don’t let children under 5 handle the birds.

Meanwhile, businesses are asked to clean and sanitize poultry display areas between shipments and keep the product out of customer reach.

Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. You can start feeling sick six hours to six days after exposure.

The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people don’t need to be hospitalized, but young children and people over 65 can be at greater risk.

Click here to learn more about salmonella from the CDC.

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