(Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press)Maine is seeing a surge in salmonella infections amid a multistate outbreak tied to backyard poultry. Stephen Combes, epidemiologist with the Maine CDC, told Maine Public on Tuesday that the number of cases is “unusually high” for Maine. He said the state is included in a salmonella outbreak, caused by infection from backyard poultry like chickens and ducks, each year. People can prevent infection by washing their hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, their eggs or anything in their environment. “Maine farmers and backyard poultry enthusiasts should avoid handling poultry and anything in their environment and then touching their face and mouths,” Hammes said.