SD County: Salmonella found at Ramona Farm in connection with outbreak

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Genetic testing has linked a regional Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 23 people to eggs distributed by or purchased directly from Happy Hens poultry farm in Ramona, San Diego County health officials announced today. Food and Drug Administration visited the farm Aug. 17 to conduct what the county described as a routine inspection unrelated to the outbreak. Investigators collected samples from hen house floors, perch rails and nest boxes, which can contain chicken excrement, to determine whether the flock was infected, county officials said. "Salmonella was found by the FDA in two of seven hen houses tested,'' according to the county. "Genetic testing of the Salmonella linked the farm to the strains from ill San Diegans." The California Department of Public Health shared the FDA results with the owners of Happy Hens and recommended that the farm voluntarily recall its eggs, officials said. "As of (Friday), Happy Hens has not voluntarily issued the request to remove eggs from markets,'' according to the county.

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