On witnessing another outbreak of salmonella from backyard chicken this week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning saying, "Always wash your hands after handling live poultry."

The same agency reported that two hundred and twelve people in 44 states have fallen ill with salmonella since February due to the consumption of chicken.

Since 2011, the CDC has declared an outbreak due to live poultry for the 10^th time. As per the agency, since 2000, 70 salmonella outbreaks related to live poultry have been announced.

"A lot of people perceive a bird with salmonella will look sick, but that is really not the case," Dr. Megin Nichols, a CDC veterinarian, told CNN after an outbreak last year. The birds harbor the bacteria on their feathers, feet and also in their droppings.

Nichols said, more people are providing poultry for themselves to ensure they know the source of their food.

Nichols asks people to read guidelines on animal care before domesticating them. The CDC and the US Department of Agriculture on its Biosecurity for Birds page display some advice.

The fundamentals still begin with constantly washing hands with soap and water post touching the birds or anything related to them. Food and water utensils can be infected with the bacteria, too.

Wear different footwear for taking care of the chickens and don't wear them within your home. Keep the birds outside, too, so they don’t transmit bacteria into your home. Train children and wash eggs.

Patients affected in the last outbreak told federal health officers their chicks and ducklings arrived from various sources like feed supply stores, websites, and hatcheries and from other people. The CDC is telling feed stores and home-delivering hatcheries that supply the chickens to take measures to prevent salmonella in poultry.