At least 34 people across 13 states have been infected with salmonella linked to contact with backyard poultry. These infections are particularly severe for young children, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Dr. Matthew Hitchcock, from Hitchcock Family Medicine, warns against assuming that backyard chickens are disease-free because they appear otherwise. He suggests simple steps to prevent the spread of this disease, such as washing hands, properly cooking food, and avoiding using antibiotics in backyard poultry when it is needed.