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    Pet Turtles Carry Salmonella Dangers, CDC Warns

    HealthDay – Thu, Feb 2, 2012

    THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The sale of pet turtles was banned three decades ago in the United States, but the small reptiles are still available and continue to infect young children with salmonella, a new report warns.

    Because of the health danger, pet turtles are inappropriate pets in homes with young children or other high-risk people, such as pregnant women, seniors and those with weak immune systems, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    The report, published by the CDC in the Feb. 3 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, describes an outbreak of 132 human salmonella infections in 18 states between August 2010 and September 2011. Many of the infections were traced to exposure to small turtles (those with shell lengths of less than 4 inches).

    Two-thirds of the infections occurred in children younger than 10. Salmonella infections in children can be severe and lead to hospitalization, the report authors noted. No deaths were reported in that outbreak.

    The 1975 ban on the sale of small turtles led to a large decline in human salmonella infections. However, these infections continue to occur because the turtles are sold illegally at fairs, flea markets and on the street, the CDC said.

    The report authors suggested some strategies to reduce the number of human salmonella infections caused by turtles:

    • Increased enforcement of existing regulations against the sale of small turtles.
    • Tougher penalties for the illegal sale of small turtles.
    • More state and local laws regulating the sale of small turtles.

    Other reptiles carry salmonella, but the little turtles' size makes them especially risky because children handle them as toys and may place them in their mouths.

    More information

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about pet turtles and salmonella.

     

    11 comments

    • Milo
      Milo  •  3 mths ago
      turtle Bell ?
    • i poop on carpet
      i poop on carpet  •  3 mths ago
      Looks like you have a better chance of getting a salmonella infection from taco bell. Don't start blaming turtles!
    • jim s
      jim s  •  Cedarburg, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      Stupid.
    • TRADE REDD NOW
      TRADE REDD NOW  •  Amsterdam, The Netherlands  •  3 mths ago
      I see turtles for sale in pet stores all the time.
      • Cow
        Cow 3 mths ago
        Yeah, I really doubt that it's illegal, seeing as how the legal teams for every big box retail pet store think that it's just fine, and they sell plenty of them. People love having outdoor turtle ponds, they're way better than goldfish.
      • TruthB
        TruthB 3 mths ago
        In Amsterdam and TX. - Turtles for sale!
    • TruthB
      TruthB  •  Manitou Springs, Colorado  •  3 mths ago
      Murtle RIP! My parents acted like that was the same dog but they couldn't replace Murtle. Only thing older than this news is wash your hands.
    • It's Me
      It's Me  •  3 mths ago
      I had a turtle named Mickey when I was a child. Good grief, I kissed him and never got sick. When Mickey died, we held a funeral, and my mother (bless her) stood patiently in the rain while I expounded at length on the virtues and talents of Mickey the turtle. My sister (the murderer of said turtle, a fact I would learn of years later) stood by pretending to grieve along with me. "sob, cry, sniff, Mickey was a good turtle, cry, sob, never hurt anyone, ohhhh!!! MICKEY!! we loved you!!" Yeah, that's about how it went, and my mother stood there like a saint, in the pouring rain, and let me bury my pet. Thanks Mom.
    • Ted Stosterone
      Ted Stosterone  •  3 mths ago
      OLD NEWS, PEOPLE!!!

      Turtles, Iguanas, and most reptiles CAN carry salmonella.....that's been known for like
      25 years or so now........DUH!!!!

      And Armadillos can carry leprosy.....in case you wanted some more OLD news
    • J Rock
      J Rock  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      I have a Russian Tortoise and she is my pal. She was only 3 inches when i purchased her. (wish i wouldn't have got her at a pet store) She enjoys eating green leaf lettuce and a tomato slice or two occasionally. (Tomatoes make her constipated tho) She also enjoys kale, pears, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, and hiding under my bed or the couch. To my knowledge she has only killed 2 dozen humans.
    • Cow
      Cow  •  Austin, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      This might be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If you didn't notice the giant "wash your hands" signs at the pet store in the last several decades, then yes, this would be news. But it's about 50 years after we knew this. *ANY* reptile or amphibian can probably carry salmonella, so you should wash your hands after touching them. Also, your kid should be a little older for reptiles. Gerbils are great instead of hamsters, way less of a mess. And a betta or tropical fish is also a great idea instead of goldfish, they crap 4-5 times as much as other fish, which is why people can't keep them alive. Also, hermit crabs live 20 years, your kid will be taking it to college.
    • .
      .  •  3 mths ago
      Yes, and the turtles and tortoises I see at major chain pet stores are as black market as you can get. On another note, I had a pet turtle that I raised from a hatchling years ago. Some ravers found him and at the after party they were giving him beer and possibly other drugs, so I rescued him, named him Rehab, and he was my best little buddy. He would come to me when I called him, and he never bit anyone, but he could tell if I didn't like someone, and he would actually change his attitude around them. He was like a little puppy. He could also flip himself back onto his feet when he accidentally got on his back. I had him in an outdoor barrel pond about 10 years ago when we had some bad flooding, and that is when he returned to nature. He is forever in my heart. My kids love reptiles and amphibians, and they know to always wash and sanitize. Education goes a long way.
      • Cow
        Cow 3 mths ago
        There is nothing "black market" about "major chain stores". Sounds crazy, I know.
    • david
      david  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      this is a secrest? let me tell you about the secret statue of liberty in new york!
     Post a comment
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