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Pet Turtles Cause Record Salmonella Outbreak

by Robin Wallace

Browse News

BY CATEGORY:
BY PET:

January 28, 2008

SECAUCUS, N.J. – Pet turtles are the center of a salmonella outbreak. More than 100 cases have been reported in 33 states across the country since August.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, this is the largest recorded outbreak of its kind. At least 24 of the 100 sickened people have been hospitalized.

Some have experienced severe symptoms such as acute kidney failure. But most suffered from bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever and vomiting.

Unfortunately, most of those cases were children, who became sick after coming in contact with the pet turtles.

Bred in crowded conditions, small turtles are prone to carrying the bacteria.

While the infected turtles were purchased at pet shops, flea markets or street vendors, the CDC is still investigating if the outbreak can be traced to a common turtle distributor or farm.

Officials advise that hands always should be washed after touching turtles. Parents should also carefully consider the purchase of small turtles as pets for children.

Although they might be the cutest of small turtles, the “mini turtles” have been prohibited from sale in the U.S since 1975. For more information on this issue, click on the link below.

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health & science, alerts, reptiles

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Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
hawley97
hawley97
1 year ago
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Apparently small turtles are illegal for sale in the US for good reason!!! However, children should always be taught to wash their hands after petting and playing with any kind of pet!!
 
Wendy O.
Wendy O. (Wendy1960)
1 year ago
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If the mini turtles are prohibited in US why not the big turtles?
 
PennyOnTheFloor
PennyOnTheFloor
1 year ago
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The ban is on turtles with carapace measurements under 4 inches. This measurement was chosen because it is less likely for children to put turtles larger than 4 inches in their mouths. This isn't the only way of getting salmonella, but the government tried to do their best to make turtles less appealing and less of a child's "toy".
 
marlyn p.
marlyn p. (skyyma2)
1 year ago
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More education for the one who decides to get these animals. They are cute, but your health is more important and not worth the problems you acquire through diseases.
 
Krystle B.
Krystle B. (krystle08)
1 year ago
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Ppl shouldn't keep these and breed them. They're fine in their adaptations, not meaning in most homes. Leave them be. :)
 
Lindsey
Lindsey (mamasky)
1 year ago
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I agree, turtles are very hard to care for and require a lot of things that most people aren't willing to provide.
 
renaedistasio
renaedistasio
1 year ago
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I don't think turtles should be kept as pets. They never do well in captivity in my experience, and they do carry disease..
 
James V.
James V. (pourlepiano)
1 year ago
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Another reason you shouldn't purchase animals through places that could care less where they get their animals.
 
Lindsey
Lindsey (OptTooAdopt)
1 year ago
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People need to be pickier on where they get their pets.
 
candicemarie
candicemarie
1 year ago
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it is always a good idea for people need to do their research on what kind of pets they want and be aware of the risks before you buy.
 
Christina
Christina (Skippysmom921)
1 year ago
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I have a turtle and when ever i touch her or clean her cage i make sure i wash my hands.I love her dearly but i think im gonna to donate her to a zoo soon.
 
Terre F.
Terre F. (Terre)
1 year ago
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I hope they track down the people selling these turtles. People should know not to buy turtles. When I was young, it was the thing to have a turtle, but now we should know better.
 
cari s.
cari s. (Cari)
1 year ago
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Wow, thats kinda scary that that happened. I know my grandma always told us as kids not to mess with turtles because they carried bacteria that could get us sick, but like we ever really listened!! I hope the kiddies are ok!
 
Goddess2
Goddess2
1 year ago
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I had these as pets when I was young - the poor things never lived long - I wish people would be compassionate and stop breeding them. Plus the health risk is scarey.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Christina L.
Christina L. (clind)
1 year ago
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You would think that more people would be ewducated bout this by now....especially those with children.
 
Sarah C.
Sarah C. (sarahcowdry)
1 year ago
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I agree with Amy C. Turtles for the most part should not be kept as pets.
 
amy c.
amy c. (PixiesRevenge)
1 year ago
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okay turtles are very cute.. but they should be in their natural enviroment... We shouldnt be breeding them either for sales. People do anything to make a dollar. I hope everyone knows the dangers they can cause
 
christine s.
christine s. (cstefanyak)
1 year ago
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I agree that washing your hands before and after handling the turtle is crucial.
 
Kirsten
Kirsten (tyger9791)
1 year ago
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parents...please don't let your children lick their turtles.
seriously though, illness from salmonella can be prevented by simply washing your hands after handling any reptile.
 
Dee M.
Dee M. (dmorder)
1 year ago
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We have a turtle and it's all about supervision and wash your hands! like with any other pet - we rescued our turtle and he is a pleasure to watch and have - he wouldn't have been able to survive in the wild - because of the issue of baby turtles being sold - we got him when he was about 2 years and we are attached - keep tank clean, only feed turtle pellet food and WASH YOUR HANDS!!!
 
margaret m.
margaret m. (lionpearl)
1 year ago
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I had a pet turtle about 40 years ago and i came home and he was gone, don't know what happened to him. Why are all these parents buying turtles for their children if they are banned? Ignorance not caring?
 
Bob C.
Bob C. (rjcronk)
1 year ago
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SECAUCUS, that is were zootoo is located. Dont you guys get sick !!! I had read that pet turtles are a real problem. Actually against the law...
 
LadySephiroth
LadySephiroth
1 year ago
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I don't know if it's so much that turtles shouldn't be kept as pets at all as it is that parents need to stress responsible ownership to their children, INCLUDING washing their hands every time after they touch that turtle, even if it's only for a second.
 
Karen H.
Karen H. (karensbirds)
1 year ago
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Turtles are not good pets for children and not only do lots of children get sick from handling the turtles but rarely do the turtles survive either.
 
CHERYL C.
CHERYL C. (cheryllee22)
1 year ago
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If the sale of these animals has been prohibited for over 30 years how are they still being sold ing pet shops. I understand it would be hard to check on what goes on at flea markets or with street vendors, but pet shops??
 
TeriWarner
TeriWarner
1 year ago
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TURTLES ARE NOT PETS!!!!
 
Carol K.
Carol K. (carol7677)
1 year ago
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This goes to show why turtles are not the best pets for young children. Wash, wash, wash!
 
Amber M.
Amber M. (hottchyk1983)
1 year ago
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Sometimes adults are so stupid. My kids wash their hands after playing with any reptile, rodent or animal that is not ours. If more parents would teach proper handwashing then this stuff would not happen. It is sad that the turtles will be blamed for a preventable human mistake
 
Cassie3
Cassie3
1 year ago
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Notice the part where they're "bred in crowded conditions." Well, sure they are, because why should anyone treat a turtle in a humane manner? Everything comes down to profit.
 
beaglemutz
beaglemutz
1 year ago
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Maybe this is nature's way of saying...leave them in the wild.
 
amy c.
amy c. (PixiesRevenge)
1 year ago
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I completley agree!
 
betty p.
betty p. (peytonplace2001)
1 year ago
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You are so right on that one. I was just thinking that when I read the story.
 
Marilyn H.
Marilyn H. (NYMare)
1 year ago
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Amen.
 
Lisa
Lisa (Puparazzi)
1 year ago
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You would think with the antibacterial everything craze that parents would stay away from buying these turtles for their kids. I thought the salmonella risk was pretty well known. That is a harsh way to learn that lesson.
 
dwigambler
dwigambler
1 year ago
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Wow, crazy.
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