As a salmonella outbreak sweeps across the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is imploring Americans to not 'kiss and snuggle' chickens.
The agency says that live poultry carrying the bacteria are responsible for infecting many of the 52 people across 21 states.
In fact, health officials say the majority of infections have been linked to backyard poultry, specifically chickens and ducklings.
So far, five people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
The CDC is asking people to not 'kiss and snuggle' chickens. amid a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 52 people across 21 states (file image)
This is not the first time the CDC has warned people against kissing or snuggling live fowl.
Last October, the agency implored people to also stop dressing up their pet chickens in Halloween costumes.
The current outbreak began in January with people reporting symptoms of illness through April 29.
States that have been affected include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Ohio leads the pack with nine cases, followed by Missouri with six cases and Pennsylvania with five cases.
Patients' ages range between
