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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.

Tell us what you think under this story. Post your favorite pet videos at the zootooTV tab. E-mail us your story ideas at news@zootoo.com or call us at 877-777-4204.



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health & science, alerts, reptiles

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Athena
Athena (KittyCuddler)
1 year ago
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yes they are very cute but please remember to wash your hands so you and others wont get sick!
 
Era
Era
1 year ago
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As cute as they are, they are like every other animal, they can make you sick.
 
Karen H.
Karen H. (Karen1957)
1 year ago
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I had them as a kid but I would never allow my kids to have them
 
Kathy S.
Kathy S. (kes1973)
1 year ago
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this is scary
 
Susan
Susan (susan9207)
1 year ago
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I remember having one of these when I was a kid. It seemed everyone did in this little enclosure with a plastic palm tree in it. Unfortunatley, they didn't last long. I always thought it was as much in the best interest of the turtles as it was for people when the sale of these tiny creatures was halted.

But as this article points out, they can still be purchased. They are sold quite openly here in NYC in Chinatown, where the turtle is cheap, but then by the time you've bought the carrying case to get it home, etc., you've spent $15. That's about the same price you can get a legal sized turtle for in a pet store. There are also so many of them available through rescues because if they do survive, people don't realize that they're looking at a 50 year commitment.

Any time there is money to be made, rules will be broken.
 
Jessica
Jessica (maszoo)
1 year ago
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Good warning to wash your hands after you handle any pets. Those pesky bacteria are all over the place.
 
Chewbacca
Chewbacca
1 year ago
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From turtles, never heard of that before
 
christina m.
christina m. (cmahesse)
1 year ago
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Very eye-opening story. Parents need to stress to kids the need to wash hands after handling any animals.
 
Megan P.
Megan P. (Alliecat123)
1 year ago
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yucky!
 
nurse4u92
nurse4u92
1 year ago
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WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!
 
kjungb
kjungb
1 year ago
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should this really be a considered an "outbreak"? there are only 100 cases so far in a time frame of almost 6 months? in any case i didn't know that turtles were so popular.
 
dawna d.
dawna d. (dawnadodd)
1 year ago
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yes, wash your hands.
 
Fears V.
Fears V. (Fearvamp68)
1 year ago
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wow thats crazyness who would have knew!
 
Patty B.
Patty B. (patbow)
1 year ago
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Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.
 
hodgepodgerog
hodgepodgerog
1 year ago
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*Bred in crowded conditions, small turtles are prone to carrying the bacteria.*

Sounds like another breeder problem to me.
 
bethany k.
bethany k. (bethanyk)
1 year ago
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What a sad story -- especially for the little kids who got sick as a result of touching their pet/s!
 
Summer
Summer (Heartsforpets)
1 year ago
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fix it!!!
 
Tiffany H.
Tiffany H. (plainjane)
1 year ago
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The poor children...This needs to be regulated and paid closer attention to. Turtles are animals, just like any other pet...
 
ljkubie
ljkubie
1 year ago
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I hope they can fix this!
 
Amanda V.
Amanda V. (bluebandit87)
1 year ago
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You would think they would have somthing to fix this!
 
Deanna D.
Deanna D. (elfquest1120)
1 year ago
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This kind of thing should be fixed. salmonella is not something to play around with and i hope that the people are doing well now. People should wash their hands after touching any animal.
 
NYCSmith
NYCSmith
1 year ago
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when I was a child I joined a campaign to outlaw the sale of baby turtles. I was dismayed to hear last year that they would be sold again. The trade in baby turtles is inhumane and dangerous for kids. Kids can be told to wash hands butwill they always do so? baby turtles should not be sold!
 
animaloverzzz
animaloverzzz
1 year ago
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People need to be educated about reptiles. All reptiles can transmit this disease if you touch them and don't wash your hands properly.
 
jinxkitty
jinxkitty
1 year ago
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Parents just need to teach their kids to wash their hands.
 
Elizabeth B.
Elizabeth B. (Grizzly4ever)
1 year ago
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turtles are awesome! heck yes!
 
Petlover333
Petlover333
1 year ago
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Walsh your hands!
 
Sam K.
Sam K. (Kleinen)
1 year ago
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those poor kids, it isn't the turtles fault they got sick though the kid need to wash their hand after they touch a animals.This cand be a lesson to all of us "WASH YOUR HANDS."
 
lialan t.
lialan t. (lialanmt)
1 year ago
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hand washing after contact with any animal should be a must because there are several diseases that can be spread if you neglect to wash hands so teach kids at a young age of appropriate hand washing
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
Fuzz
Fuzz
1 year ago
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All these years and I never knew what happened to the little turtles. And I'm an animal person. There should be more of an effort made to inform the publc.
 
Jessica S.
Jessica S. (buddysmomma)
1 year ago
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Urgh- this is what happens when people make uninformed decisions to take animals into their homes.
 
Anonymous
Anonymous
1 year ago
This comment has been removed.
 
pigmother
pigmother
1 year ago
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i wish there could be more control over who and what and where these animals are being dold.
 
kristen k.
kristen k. (kristenkipp)
1 year ago
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i'm sorry to hear this, my son has always a turtle as a pet but i'm just not willing to put his health at risk for a pet. he'll have to just love our dog twice as much
 
anne c.
anne c. (smokyluna)
1 year ago
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Turtles should not be pets and they don't like to be handled
 
Rachele S.
Rachele S. (ajbk)
1 year ago
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I found this very intersesting. I did not know that turtles with shells under 4" in diameter were illegal to sell. I have always been scared to let my children touch turtles because of the chance of them getting salmonella. I hope this encourages parents to make sure their children are washing their hands appropriately after handling a turtle.
 
DorisAnne M.
DorisAnne M. (QueenPixie17)
1 year ago
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are you that much of an idiot to let your child lick a turtle!
 
cathy l.
cathy l. (cathyleistikow)
1 year ago
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Ya know people, teach your kids to wash their hands. We as a race are getting lazier and lazier.
Never had near the problems way back when as you all do now.
 
Abby P.
Abby P. (Mirky11505)
1 year ago
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I feel moved by this story and really want to help in the situation!
 
Tim H.
Tim H. (poser101)
1 year ago
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If they would stop breeding these animals the way they do, the kids could lick the turtles all they wanted! (Provided they use mouthwash afterwards...) Seriously though, it's horrible the way they breed animals in the conditions that they do.
 
paul2
paul2
1 year ago
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lol kids might lick their turtles. but why are their parents buying them illegal pets, guess they don't realize
 
Richard S.
Richard S. (RichStoops)
1 year ago
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If people would quit licking their turtles, this would NOT happen!
 
celestialstar03
celestialstar03
1 year ago
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I love to see the tiny turtles in the pet shops but now i am having second thoughts.
 
berrypatch573
berrypatch573
1 year ago
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Please don't buy turtles.
 
Rebecca
Rebecca (rescue12304)
1 year ago
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We have a red-eyed turtle and a 3-year old son. Common sense people, learn about you pet before and after purchasing! No matter what form it is. Our son and my family do not have any problems. We got Dude when she was the size of a silver dollar, and now she is about the size of a saucer. We supervise our son's playtime with the turtle, and are constantly washing our hands after playing. Mostly our child enjoys feeding her, but we still insist on proper handwashing techniques. Feeding and watching is our son's eqivalent to playtime. When he is old enough to realize that it is not healthy to put his hands in his mouth than we will allow our son to hold the turtle. Until then my best advice-know you pet, and your children-it helps to anticipate any issues that may arise.
 
suppleupagus
suppleupagus
1 year ago
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I agree, but unfortunately, there are way too many irresponsible parents and caregivers out there that dont wash their hands. You'd think with all the stuff that goes around, especially this time of year, that people would be adament about hand washing, but the statistics show otherwise... these are the same people spreading all this crap around
 
BrigidsBlest
BrigidsBlest
1 year ago
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I think this should put a swift end to the government's proposed idea about lifting the law preventing small turtles from being sold in some venues.
 
Cheryl L.
Cheryl L. (cdagner331)
1 year ago
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I can't figure out why these are still sold in pet stores.....
 
DANIELLE K.
DANIELLE K. (DANIENDAY)
1 year ago
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THIS WORRIES ME DUE TO MY SISTER WITH SMALL CHILDREN HAS A TURTLE,,THEY HAVE HAD FOR OVER A YR...WOW,,,I WILL TELL HER TO CHECK IN WITH THIS !
 
patty78050
patty78050
1 year ago
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did we just hear a story about the goverment whatever department wanting to remove the law to sell small turtles maybe this is their answer.
 
patty78050
patty78050
1 year ago
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scary
 
This is a bit scary, I have 4 turtles
 
spongebrooke
spongebrooke
1 year ago
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don't put them in your mouth and wash your hands after touching them! oy, common sense!
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