Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pet Turtles
The outbreak began in August and has so far been responsible for sickening over 100 people and hospitalizing 24 in 33 states across the country. This is the largest recorded outbreak of its kind (as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday).
The average age of the infected person’s is 7 1/2, indicating children come in contact most frequently with the turtles. Although over 100 people are sick, no one has died from the outbreak, but some patients are experiencing severe symptoms such as acute kidney failure. The most common symptoms reported have been: bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, vomiting, and fever.
Salmonella is most commonly associated with food poisoning (undercooked chicken, etc.), but salmonella caused by small turtles accounts for about 6% of the infections. Small turtles have created lots of problems due to the fact that they are often bred in small, crowded places, and they are much more likely to be given to children as pets.
Patients in about half the reported 103 cases reported being exposed to turtles (most of the remaining patients reported being friends or relatives of turtle owners). Some of the patients reported feeding, kissing, holding, or playing with the turtle. In one extreme case one person reported bathing a baby in a sink where turtle waste was disposed of.
What can you do to prevent getting Salmonella? WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER ANY INTERACTION WITH THE TURTLE!! If you are thinking about getting a turtle for your children, you may want to reconsider. Based on the facts received by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of the turtles came from pet shops, but they were also purchased at flea markets and from street vendors.
For more information on this outbreak, check out the following articles:
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Posted in PetStrong
