Duck, duck, dodge
Monday, April 16th, 2012
It’s warm and sunny today and folks are taking their little tikes out to look at flowers and baby birds. It’s so sweet to see those fuzzy yellow ducklings… But I was just reminded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that these adorable fuzz balls carry salmonella and we as parents need to keep our children away from them.
Salmonella infection is a bacterial disease. Most salmonella infections come from food sources, such as poultry, meat and eggs. But salmonella infection can be linked to reptiles or birds.
According to Jennifer Mitchell of the CDC, “Those most at risk include infants and children younger than 5, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Young children are especially likely to develop a Salmonella infection because they love to pick up, snuggle, and kiss the chicks and ducklings.” I know it may be tempting to cuddle these cuties, but it’s not really safe for your kiddies or for you if you’re pregnant.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, nausea, fever and abdominal cramps that last for several days. It’s not a good time for them or for you. So, if you want to go feed the ducks, consider standing on a bridge and tossing the food into the water. You can watch the duckies swim while keeping a safe distance.
