Despite some news reports, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't warn people against dressing up chickens for Halloween. (File Photo: KUTV) 
 
 (KUTV) — Despite some news reports, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't warn people against dressing up chickens for Halloween. 
 
 The CDC stated in a media statement Thursday that despite news reports saying otherwise, people can dress up chickens in Halloween costumes. However, the public health institute does advise chicken owners to handle them carefully to keep their families and chickens safe and healthy. 
 
 If you're handling any chickens during the spooky holiday, here are some tips: 
 
 
 
 Always wash your hands after touching chickens or anything in the environment. Use running water and soap, and use alcohol-based sanitizer if you don't have instant access to a sink. 
 
 Keep your chickens outside and never let them inside your home. 
 
 Don't eat or drink in areas where the chickens live or roam. 
 
 Don't kiss or snuggle with your birds, and don't touch your face immediately afterward. 
 
 Children under 5 years old should not be in contact with chickens - young children are more likely to get sick because of their developing immune systems, and more likely to put their fingers or pacifiers and other items in their mouths. 
 
 For more information on handling chickens and other poultry, visit www.cdc.gov. 

 Media Statement For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 25, 2018 
 
 Contact: Media Relations, 
 
 (404) 639-3286 
 
 Despite news reports to the contrary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not warned people against dressing chickens in Halloween costumes. 
 
 However, we do advise people with backyard or pet chickens to handle them carefully to keep their family and their chickens safe and healthy. 
 
 Always wash your hands after touching chickens or anything in their environment. Running water and soap are best. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available, and wash your hands thoroughly when you get to a sink. 
 
 Keep chickens outdoors. Never bring them in your house. 
 
 Don’t eat or drink in the area where the birds live or roam. 
 
 Don’t kiss your birds or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth. 
 
 Children under 5 years old should not hold or touch chickens. Young children are more likely to get sick because their immune systems are still developing and they are more likely to put their fingers or pacifiers and other items into their mouths. 
 
 More information about keeping backyard chickens and other poultry is available at https://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellapoultry/index.html. 
 
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 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESExternal
– If you want to dress your chicken up for Halloween, the CDC wants you to know that it's just fine with you letting your avian freak flag fly, reports KUTV. In an actual news release meant to soothe those whose Halloween plans were thrown into emotional upheaval, the government health agency says that "despite news reports to the contrary," the CDC did not issue a warning against costumed poultry—though it does offer up some tips on safely handling your chickens. Those tips include washing your hands after touching the birds and refraining from kissing or snuggling them and then touching your mouth. Sorry, chickens. Carry on, America.