Wild Songbirds Spreading Salmonella Infection

April 8, 2021 by Alexa Hornbeck
Wild Songbirds Spreading Salmonella Infection

The CDC has issued a report finding that small, yellow-tinged songbirds from the finch family were linked to 19 infections of salmonella across the U.S.  

Rachel Curtis-Robles, a public health educator and outreach officer for the California Department of Wildlife, advised residents of San Mateo County to “take down your bird feeders and wash hands after being outdoors,” in a written statement

The wild songbirds, known as Pine Siskins, have already led to eight hospitalizations, and 19 salmonella infections in eight states. 

Of the 19 cases reported, six cases occurred in Washington, five cases in Oregon, three in California, and one case reported in each state of Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi, Vermont, and New Hampshire.  

“Salmonellosis is almost exclusively reported from locations with bird feeders where birds congregate,” said the California Department of Wildlife in a written statement.  

This is because sick birds usually flock to bird feeders and baths, gathering in close proximity, which allows the disease to spread quickly.  

The California Department of Wildlife wrote that while it’s uncommon for pets like cats and dogs to become sick with salmonellosis, they can still be carriers of the Salmonella bacteria and spread it to people.

When the CDC interviewed 13 infected individuals, they found that 69% owned a bird feeder, 15% reported contact with a sick or dead wild bird, and 10 people had pets with access to wild birds.   

The first salmonella case was reported on December 27, 2020, and the most recent case was reported on March 16. However, this may not be accurate to the actual timeline of infection, as it can take anywhere between six hours to six days after coming into contact with the bacteria to experience symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.  

“You can get sick when you touch your mouth with unwashed hands after touching wild birds, bird feeders or bird baths, or your pets that have contact with wild birds,” the CDC wrote in a statement.  

The Centers for Disease Control also recommends that individuals don’t scatter food on the ground for birds, and to keep pets away from bird feeders and dead birds. 

For those who still want to delight in watching wild songbirds in their birdbaths and feeders, a virtual experience of birds and their mating habits is now offered through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s live bird cams

CDC is also encouraging people with bird feeders to regularly clean and disinfect them. People may become ill from touching wild birds or something in its environment, such as a bird feeder or bird bath, and then touching their mouth or face and swallowing Salmonella germs.

Wild songbirds, such as pine siskins, can be found throughout the United States, so this outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.

In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. Pine siskins and other songbirds impacted by this outbreak are distributed across North America including the United States and may migrate seasonally.

Health departments across the United States are aware of the outbreak and conducting routine surveillance which would allow for identification of new illnesses.

A+
a-
  • California
  • health
  • Kenctucky
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pine Siskins
  • salmonella
  • songbirds
  • Vermont
  • Washington State
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Health

    May 21, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    States, Tribes to Have Easier Time Importing Drugs From Canada

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday announced “enhancements” under section 804 of the Federal Food, Drug and... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday announced “enhancements” under section 804 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to allow states and Indian tribes to more easily import certain prescription drugs from Canada. The move, implementing an executive order signed by President... Read More

    May 21, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    FDA Seeking Expanded Warning Labels for COVID-19 Vaccines

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has directed Pfizer and Moderna to expand warning labels on their COVID-19 vaccines... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has directed Pfizer and Moderna to expand warning labels on their COVID-19 vaccines to include risks of a heart injury side effect associated with the mRNA shots. According to letters to Pfizer (and its vaccine partner BioNTech) and Moderna... Read More

    May 21, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Kennedy Assures Panel on Funding for Health Research at Public Universities

    WASHINGTON — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a Senate panel on Tuesday that he’s looking at a variety... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a Senate panel on Tuesday that he’s looking at a variety of different ways to assure major universities continue to get research funding despite a ban on coverage of “indirect costs” that go along with such work.... Read More

    New Trump Vaccine Policy Limits Access to COVID Shots

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday it will limit approval for seasonal COVID-19 shots to seniors and others at high risk pending... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday it will limit approval for seasonal COVID-19 shots to seniors and others at high risk pending more data on everyone else — raising questions about whether some people who want a vaccine this fall will be able to get one. Top officials... Read More

    Choose Wisely: Medicaid Cuts Could Cripple Trump’s America First Agenda

    In Washington, D.C., there is one rule you can count on: nothing is ever as it seems. The mirage of... Read More

    In Washington, D.C., there is one rule you can count on: nothing is ever as it seems. The mirage of smoke and mirrors provides the ambiance, but not the needed reflection. The current debate over cutting Medicaid is no different. It’s not just a budget fight... Read More

    After US Cuts Funding, WHO Chief Defends $2.1B Budget Request by Comparing It With Cost of War

    GENEVA (AP) — Stripped of U.S. funding, the World Health Organization chief on Monday appealed to member countries to support its “extremely... Read More

    GENEVA (AP) — Stripped of U.S. funding, the World Health Organization chief on Monday appealed to member countries to support its “extremely modest” request for a $2.1 billion annual budget by putting that sum into perspective next to outlays for ad campaigns for tobacco or the cost of... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top