More than 400 cases of salmonella across the country have been linked to backyard poultry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 100 people have been hospitalized. Texas and Missouri have the most cases, followed by Minnesota, Washington, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

Backyard poultry like chickens and ducks can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. You can get sick from touching your backyard poultry or anything in their environment and then touching your mouth or food, thereby swallowing Salmonella germs. Always wash your hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs, or anything in the area. Keep your backyard poultry and the supplies you use to care for them outside of the house. Always supervise children around poultry and make sure they wash their hands afterward.

Almost 70 percent of those who’ve gotten sick say they had contact with backyard poultry.