Yes, worse this year....but this comes out every year.I think the increase in cases is due to so many new chicken owners trying to prepare for the covid nonsense, just as there are many more first time chicken owners here on the forum.
Many cases do come from BY flocks and the ignorance of handling livestock.If you're good about washing your hands after handling them, and not putting them in your mouth, handling your used muck boots, etc... you're fine. It's a lot of hype - many salmonella cases don't come from backyard poultry, but rather food processing issues, contaminated produce, etc.