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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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Spang875
Spang875
1 year ago
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I think it should be on the parents to be the responsible ones and look after their children and make sure they wash thoroughly after interaction with turtles.
 
Danny C.
Danny C. (mainebower)
1 year ago
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great story thanks my grand kids have a turtlel
 
PetBunny
PetBunny
1 year ago
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Teach them responsibly and good hygiene.
 
Teresa B.
Teresa B. (teresabutler)
1 year ago
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didn't know.
 
iseeurn
iseeurn
1 year ago
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Kids- wash your hands!!
 
Lonnad
Lonnad
1 year ago
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It's unfortunate that the turtles are bred in an environment where the spread of this is common. Hopefully people will be more diligent about handwashing or just skip getting this kind of pet for smaller children altogether.
 
theresa s.
theresa s. (mrsmack)
1 year ago
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I didnt know this but I have never had a turtle
 
april8sue
april8sue
1 year ago
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It's not a good idea for small children to have one. You know there are times they will not wash their hands
 
Lynn C.
Lynn C. (Lynn1)
1 year ago
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I'm not sure having a turtle as pet is a good idea. For one thing, often the turtle doesn't get the type of care that it really needs. For another, it is hard to get kids to wash their hands each and every time after touching a pet.
 
Courtney
Courtney (johncenashot5)
1 year ago
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i used to have one of those turtles. their so cute!
 
linda s.
linda s. (furrybabies)
1 year ago
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The number one way to help prevent the spread of infection is through handwashing. Ever heard of hand sanitizers if water is not available
 
anmaderia
anmaderia
1 year ago
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People...its common sense...WASH YOUR HANDS!!! Quit being so lazy......<3
 
MELODY Q.
MELODY Q. (maq333)
1 year ago
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Bum wrap for the turtles. Definitley wash your hands.
 
LIZ R.
LIZ R. (LIZRICH)
1 year ago
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COMMON SENSE WASH YOUR HANDS...
 
peep
peep
1 year ago
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DIdn't know this was possible.
 
ttodd
ttodd
1 year ago
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Gross. Wash your hands.
 
meowlover
meowlover
1 year ago
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It just takes common sense to know to wash your hands after touching turtles.
 
swimallfly
swimallfly
1 year ago
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Buy soap...
 
Patti B.
Patti B. (slavetoabunny)
1 year ago
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Just another case for hand washing.
 
Rachel G.
Rachel G. (chicinmudd)
1 year ago
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Okay, common sense that turtles carry salmonella. So when you are done playing with your pet turtle WASH YOUR HANDS!!! That is the simple solution.
 
Debra D.
Debra D. (soulstice58)
1 year ago
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People aren't educating themselves well enough before they buy animals of any kind. This is something that probably would have been pointed out had they bothered to do research about their new pets.
 
NYCSmith
NYCSmith
1 year ago
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the sale of aquatic baby turtles was banned years ago because of salmonella. Now they are back and so is salmonella! This needs to be banned again. Too many kids are getting sick. These little turtles are rarely taken care of properly and usually die.
 
donna w.
donna w. (dweyer)
1 year ago
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turtles deserve the same care and concern as any mammal. If we keep our dog and cat conditions clean why not reptiles?
 
tonyshuman
tonyshuman
1 year ago
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that's too bad, but it's a problem that's common with unsanitary care of turtles. it's part of the reason i've never had one as a pet!
 
Ashley A.
Ashley A. (AshleyAnna)
1 year ago
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Wash your hands
 
diana l.
diana l. (stlblue1)
1 year ago
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doesn't surprise me....
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Vanessa J.
Vanessa J. (aboutmyeyes)
1 year ago
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Hands should be washed after handling any animal. I hope adults will put ore emphasis on hand washing with their kids.
 
acadianahumane
acadianahumane
1 year ago
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Around here, it is illegal to sell turtles under a certain size. It is sad, but I know of a pet store in town that gets around it by giving away the small turtles for "free" when purchasing turtle housing kits. Sad, but true.
 
trav78
trav78
1 year ago
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I will wash my hands more often!
 
arnie
arnie (arnied)
1 year ago
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nothing is safe. wash your hands people
 
James S.
James S. (carrots4)
1 year ago
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wash your hands children!!
 
BigWill
BigWill
1 year ago
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All I think about is WASH your hands after messing with anything.
 
hbronecke
hbronecke
1 year ago
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Turtles are cute but GERMY! (I think I'll just go play with a piece of raw chicken. I am SO kidding.)
 
melissa7271
melissa7271
1 year ago
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A lot of informative information and I am sure with the seriousness of it all people will start washing their hands more often and make sure they take care of their turtles properly, etc.
 
crystal c.
crystal c. (church)
1 year ago
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it is so important to wash your hands properly and often
 
Angie S.
Angie S. (a8682)
1 year ago
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Good to know, my friend has 3 small turtles...but she is aware of the salmonella.
 
Margaret
Margaret (margalea)
1 year ago
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I never knew turtles carried salmonella
 
Jessica R.
Jessica R. (teampin1)
1 year ago
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This is like any other animal. If you don't care of it properly you will have problems. As with anything you touch now days make sure you wash your hands!
 
lizardlover27
lizardlover27
1 year ago
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Turtles are very interesting to watch.. Best thing my Mom ever told me is wash your hands..
 
chiefwab
chiefwab
1 year ago
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Turtles are cute but like anything alwasy wash your hands animals or not..
 
GRAM B.
GRAM B. (paweba)
1 year ago
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Always good to wash your hands animals or not.
 
Rory H.
Rory H. (pseudoestheastro)
1 year ago
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wow, glad i don't own any turtles...
 
Carlie
Carlie (ieatsay1111)
1 year ago
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My friend had a small turtle... It died, but I think it was that kind that the article mentioned was banned from sale...I will mention to people to wash their hands.
 
Sara S.
Sara S. (Steinie)
1 year ago
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This is alarming to read. I wouldn't of thought about an outbreak of this kind with turtles.
 
Laurie S.
Laurie S. (Lsls67)
1 year ago
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Eeek!! We love our pet turtle "Nemo"...we've had him for 6 years now. We are very cautious about washing our hands after handling him. It is alarming to read this. Is there any way to test the turtle to see if it carries this bacteria?
 
Courtney M.
Courtney M. (courtneyd)
1 year ago
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Good to know even though I don't plan on having a pet turtle ever...they belong in the wild.
 
Lane P.
Lane P. (TailsLane)
1 year ago
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I thought pet turtles were banned a long time ago.
 
missyscove
missyscove
1 year ago
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They were. They're still sold illegally.
 
Mindy L.
Mindy L. (CodaPeaches)
1 year ago
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Teach children to wash their hands properly. I still see people leave the restroom without washing their hands, so they could easily play with a turtle and then touch their face.
 
Colette V.
Colette V. (ColetteV)
1 year ago
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The 'outbreak' is a result of contamination. People should be aware of basic habits to avoid illness - washing hands is an absolute must for the health of you and your pets.
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