Table of Contents
Published: May 15, 2025
Read Time: 1.7 Mins
Total Views: 1,028
In this episode of Thermometer HQ, Inside Outbreaks, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein investigate three pressing public health threats unfolding across the United States—from backyard chicken coops to convenience store shelves to the streets of Los Angeles.
First, they explore a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka linked to backyard poultry in at least six states. With young children among the most affected, the episode breaks down how contact with live birds—even in family settings—can lead to serious illness, and why the true number of infections is likely much higher than reported. They also explain how public health agencies use molecular subtyping to trace outbreaks across state lines.
The episode then pivots to the USDA’s rollback of proposed food safety regulations. A rule designed to limit dangerous Salmonella strains in poultry—expected to prevent over 100,000 illnesses annually—was recently shelved, raising urgent concerns about the future of food safety oversight.
Finally, they discuss a growing hepatitis A outbreak in Los Angeles, where most recent cases involve people without traditional risk factors. Hepatitis A, like Salmonella, spreads through the fecal-oral route—often through poor sanitation, infected food handlers, or contaminated produce.
Topics covered include:
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Why backyard poultry poses hidden risks for families
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How Salmonella surveillance works—and why budget cuts threaten it
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What went wrong with USDA’s proposed chicken safety rule
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The return of hepatitis A in LA and the role of community-wide vaccination
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The importance of systemic food safety protections—not just individual handwashing
This episode highlights how invisible risks—whether from a backyard coop, a deli sandwich, or unwashed hands—can quickly become public health threats without proper prevention, surveillance, and regulation.
