The outbreak of Salmonella Hadar and Salmonella Mbandaka caused at least 474 people to become ill, 103 people... [] were hospitalized and 1 person died. (Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

You can show your love to your chickens, ducks or other poultry in many different ways. You can turn your head to the side and say: "If you are a bird, I am a bird." You can form a heart shape with your fingers, and then whisper: "You finished me." Or you can stare seriously They have a firm tone, "You let me eat eggs."

But don't, just don't, snuggle or kiss your chickens, ducks or other poultry.

It's not that they don't like PDAs (public displays of infections). Or CDA (infected chicken display). Their big problem is infection by pathogens such as Salmonella. On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the latest news about the Salmonella Hadar and Mbandaka Salmonella outbreaks, which have caused at least 474 people to become ill, 103 people were hospitalized, and one person died. These cases span 46 different states. So far, the only states that have survived are Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, and New Mexico.

Since December 15, 2020, cases have continued to appear. The median age of the affected population is 31 years old, and in CDC terms, 30% of them are "children under 5 years of age." It is not clear how many "real children under 5" are affected. Slightly more than half (58%) are women.

As I wrote for Forbes before, Salmonella infection is not a good thing. If someone asks, "Do you want some salmonella", just say no, no matter what "that" is. Salmonella can cause severe fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. This may include bloody diarrhea, which means there is blood in the diarrhea, not just the "damn diarrhea" as the British call it. In some cases, Salmonella infection can cause more serious complications, including death, especially if you have a weak immune system, just like young children or elderly people.

Make sure you have a manageable number of ducks in your backyard. (Photo: HOANG DINH NAM/AFP... [] via Getty Images)

Salmonella infections can occur at any time, not just during an outbreak. Once the epidemic is over, the CDC will not say that you can go back to snuggle your poultry and say: "I will never let go, duck. I promise." You must still maintain a reasonable distance and wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. In addition, supervise your children when they are close to the flock, and keep children under 5 years of age away from poultry. Not only are young people more susceptible to more serious salmonella infections, but they also fail to follow instructions well. This should have been obvious since the last time you let your three-year-old build a nuclear reactor. They also tend to treat their hands like popsicles.

Also, as I previously reported for Forbes, beware of eggs. As the CDC recommends, don't let them stay in the nest for too long and become contaminated. Discard any cracked eggs, as bacteria can enter the eggs. Use fine sandpaper, brush or cloth to carefully wipe off the dirt on the eggs. Don't do this with your tongue. Do not rinse the eggs with water, as this will help bring bacteria into the eggs. Do not put eggs in the dishwasher or washing machine, because this is not a good thing. Keep the eggs refrigerated until you are ready to use them. When cooking eggs, heat them to an internal temperature of at least 160°F to kill any pathogens and cook until the yolk and egg whites are hard. Too relaxed may lead to excessive restlessness.

Speaking of easy, these suggestions are easier said than done. Yes, it can be said that when you are watching Netflix, it is difficult to suppress the urge to touch your bird. Yes, when you withdraw, your poultry may say "what kind of duck is this". But remember, as the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has shown, there are other ways to express love besides touching.