A section of the popular petting farm in Ta’ Qali has been cordoned off after peacocks and turkeys were infected with salmonella.

However, Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes told The Sunday Times there was no cause for alarm since the infection had been contained.

The area was quarantined immediately as soon as the animals tested positive for salmonella enteritidis, a ministry statement said yesterday.

This particular strain of the salmonella bacterium affects and infects poultry – especially chicken flocks, without causing visible disease, spreading rapidly.

When passed on to humans, usually through consumption of uncooked meat or eggs and contaminated food, it causes symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fever.

Mr Galdes insisted there were no signs of human contagion.

“The salmonella was picked up through regular tests on the animals,” he explained.

Animals, he said, were being regularly tested for any diseases – especially those which came into contact with children.

The bacterium was quite common in poultry and the animals were going to be treated, not put down, Mr Galdes said.

The tests were carried out by the Veterinary Department, and the section would be opened to the public once the samples turned out to be negative after treatment and disinfection, the statement said.

The highly popular petting farm opened last year after an investment of €800,000, and is spread over 13,300 square metres.

How to avoid salmonella infections:

• Wash your hands and home surfaces often.

• Wash hands, cutting boards, dishes, and so on, with hot soapy water before handling any food.

• Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other food in the fridge.

• Cook food properly.

• Refrigerate all food items at once.