Seventeen cases of salmonella poisoning in the Southwest since April have been linked to a single New Mexico hatchery, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

Department of Health Public Information Officer Deborah Davis declined to release the name of the hatchery or where it is located because she said the department was concerned with harming the business. She said salmonella is a naturally occurring bacteria in poultry and could be found in any bird at any poultry farm.