ATLANTA, Ga. — At least 32 families from the Midwest, including 15 from Ohio, have been hit with salmonella outbreaks after the victims became overly affectionate with their backyard chickens, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced – and there may be more cases that have not been reported.

As of June 29, the outbreaks had occurred in 40 states, including Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Most of the victims have been women, many of them mothers tending their family’s backyard chicken flocks, the CDC said.

No deaths have been reported but of the 181 families hit with various strains of human salmonella infections, 33 have been hospitalized.

“We do not recommend snuggling or kissing the birds or touching them to your mouth,” say CDC veterinarian Megin Nichols, “because that is certainly one way people become infected with salmonella.”

The federal agency further warns backyard flock owners should immediately protect themselves and others by not bringing the chickens into homes, and washing one’s hands with soap and water immediately after handling the birds.

The United States has experienced a dramatic boom in backyard poultry over the past 10 years with a growing trend of families seeing the hens as family pets in addition to daily egg providers. Not all families agree with the CDC; as one Washington, D.C., area family told two national radio audiences, “they like to cuddle with their birds.”

In interviews with NPR’s “All Things Considered” program and Canada’s popular radio program, “As it Happens,” Lynette Mattke talked about her backyard flock and her favorite hen, Caledonia.

“You see, Caledonia, she just cuddles. She loves to stick her head under my arm,” Mattke said. “Our friends who come to visit (the chickens) are always so surprised at how soft they are.”

Besides Caledonia, Mattke said her other hens have names, and her whole family love the chickens. Mattke’s 18-year old daughter, Elia, told the show picking up the chickens lets one connect with them, and that’s important.

“If they’re used to humans holding them, then you can walk in (to the coop) without worrying about they going to jump or get scared. You want to be able to feed them and water them without them starting to fly all around and go crazy,” she added.

Nichols, who was also on NPR, further cautioned owners that “kissing the birds or touching them to your mouth, that’s one way people become infected with salmonella.”

In the recent outbreaks, the CDC said it is collaborating with public health, veterinary and agriculture officials from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to investigate the four multistate outbreaks of salmonella infections.

In the Midwest outbreaks, Ohio reported the most cases at 15; Tennessee, 6; Kentucky, 4; Indiana, 3; Michigan, 3; and Iowa, 1. Four different investigations uncovered the various bacteria strains among the 40 states: Salmonella Enteritis with two DNA fingerprints; Salmonella Hadar, one DNA fingerprint; Salmonella Indiana, five DNA fingerprints; and Salmonella Muenchen with one DNA fingerprint.

Any one of the strains can cause death, investigators say.

Public health officials found women to be the largest number of victims, and overall, all victims varied in ages from under 1 year of age to 85. Most of the victims reported contact with live poultry before becoming ill, saying they kissed or cuddled the birds and had brought the chickens into their homes.

To protect yourself, your families and others against contracting salmonella or other possible infections, the CDC suggests the following:

•Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.

•If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

•Children younger than 5 years, adults older than 65, and people with weakened Immune systems should not handle or touch chickens, ducklings, or other live poultry. People in these groups are more likely to have a severe illness from salmonella infection.

•Do not let live poultry inside the house, in bathrooms or especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served or stored, such as kitchens or outdoor patios.

•Do not snuggle or kiss the birds, touch your mouth or eat or drink around poultry.

•Stay outdoors when cleaning any equipment or materials used to raise or care for live poultry, such as cages or feed or water containers.

These recommendations are important and apply to all live poultry regardless of age of  the chicks, birds or where they were purchased.

The CDC has issued separate and extensive rules and advice for mail-order hatcheries and feed stories that sell or display live poultry.

For information, consult the CDC’s webpage at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/ live-poultry under the link “Advice for Backyard Flock Owners.”

The leading website for backyard chicken coop owners at Backyardchickens.com reports it now has 350,650 members, with new members added each week.