A Salmonella outbreak linked to illegal small turtles has sickened at least 15 pole in 11 states and has hospitalized five, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A federal law bans the sale of turtles with shells less than four inches long, because they have caused so many Salmonella outbreaks. They are sometimes available for sale online and at stores, flea markets, and roadside stands. The people who reported buying small turtles before they got sick purchased them from a website called myturtlestore.com. The same strain of Salmonella that made people sick was found on turtles purchased from that online shop. Pet turtles of any size can carry Salmonella bacteria, even though they look healthy and clean. The pathogen easily spreads to tank water and … [Read more...]
Salmonella Agbeni Outbreak Linked to Pet Turtles
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information about a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Agbeni infections that are linked to pet turtles. As of August 29, 2017, there are 37 people sick in 13 states. Sixteen people have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage for this type of outbreak. Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 1, 2017 to August 3, 2017. Of 33 people who have been interviewed, 16 have been hospitalized. That hospitalization rate of almost 50% is more than double the usual rate of 22% for most Salmonella outbreaks. Twelve, or 32%, of ill persons are children under the age of 5. No deaths have been reported. Epidemiologic and laboratory findings link the outbreak to contact with turtles or their environment, such as … [Read more...]
CDC: Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Tiny Turtles Expand
Salmonella outbreaks linked to tiny pet turtles have expanded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In October 2015, the CDC reported two Salmonella outbreaks linked to tiny turtles that had sickened a total of 51 people. There are now four outbreaks that have sickened a total of 133 people in 26 states between January 16, 2015 and April 8, 2016. Thirty eight people have been hospitalized. Most of of those sickened are children. Because small turtles have long been associated with Salmonella infections, especially in children, the sale of turtles with shells of less than four inches in length has been banned since 197. Many of the case patients in this outbreak reported buying the small turtles from street vendors. Public health investigators used the … [Read more...]
Two Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Pet Turtles
Two Salmonella outbreaks linked to tiny pet turtles have sickened at least 51 people in 16 states, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because small turtles have long been associated with Salmonella infections, especially in children, the sale of turtles with shells of less than four inches in length has been banned since 1974. Many of the case patients in this outbreak reported buying the small turtles from street vendors. About half of the illnesses, which were reported between January 22, 2015 and September 8, 2015, affected children 5 and under. Epidemiologic investigations and laboratory findings have linked both outbreaks to contact with small turtles or their environments, such as water from a turtle habitat. This is not the first … [Read more...]
Salmonella Illnesses From Illegal, Tiny Pet Turtles Continue
Illegal tiny pet turtles continue to cause of Salmonella illnesses across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that eight outbreaks, some of which began in 2011, have sickened a total 371 people in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Sixty two people have been hospitalized. Most of the victims, 70 percent, are children under 10. Children are among those who are at particular risk when it comes to Salmonella infection, which is why the Food and Drug Administration banned the sale and distribution of small turtles as pets in 1975. Turtles with shells shorter four inches are illegal to own and should not be purchased or given as gifts. Animals that look healthy can carry Salmonella and contaminate what they touch or what touches them. Children … [Read more...]
Six Salmonella Outbreaks Linked To Illegal Pet Turtles
Six ongoing Salmonella outbreaks that have sickened a total of 248 people in 34 states have been linked to illegal pet turtles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Almost 70 percent of those who became ill were children under the age of 10. It is precisely because of Salmonella risk , especially to young children, that the Food and Drug Administration banned the sale and distribution of small turtles as pets in 1975. Turtles with shells shorter four inches should not be purchased as pets or given as gifts. Salmonella is a bacteria that can make people sick if ingested. Turtles and other reptiles and amphibians can have Salmonella on their bodies even if they appear healthy and clean. The germs can also get on everything they have contact with … [Read more...]
Petco’s Turtle Turn-In Program A Response To Salmonella Outbreaks
In response to a wave of Salmonella outbreaks linked to small, pet turtles that have sickened 219 people in 34 states, Petco has created a turtle turn-in program. The company, which does not sell the turtles in question, will collect them and send them to Concordia Turtle Farm, a turtle exporter based in Wildsville, La. The sale and distribution of turtles with shells less than four inches in length has been banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1975 because of the Salmonella risk these animals pose. Under the new program, the turtles can be turned at Petco with no questions asked and be transferred to the farm where they can live in suitable conditions. Releasing these turtles into the wild is not recommended as they are not likely to survive and may introduce … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Small Turtles: 168 Ill
The CDC has updated their investigation into six multistate Salmonella outbreaks linked to small turtles. Now, 168 people are ill. We've told you about this investigation before; the last update was July 1, 2012. The ill persons live in 30 states. The number of ill persons in each state are: Alabama (2), Alaska (2), Arizona (5), California (28), Colorado (5), Delaware (3), Georgia (3), Illinois (3), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (6), Massachusetts (5), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), New Jersey (7), North Carolina (1), New Mexico (6), Nevada (8), New York (25), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (16), South Carolina (4), Tennessee (4), Texas (19), Vermont (1), Virginia (4), and West Virginia (1). Thirty-four ill persons have been hospitalized; … [Read more...]
Update on Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Linked to Small Turtles
The CDC has released updated information about multistate outbreaks of Salmonella linked to small turtles. So far, 149 people in 28 states are infected with outbreak strains of four types of bacteria: Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Poona. We've told you about this outbreak in March 2012 and again in May 2012. In the last update, there were five outbreaks; now there are six. The case count is as follows: Alabama (2) Alaska (2) Arizona (5) California (26) Colorado (5) Delaware (3) Georgia (3) Illinois (1) Indiana (1) Kentucky (1) Massachusetts (3) Maryland (6) Michigan (2) Minnesota (1) New Jersey (7) New Mexico (4) New York (25) Nevada (6) North Carolina (1) Ohio (2) Oregon (1) Pennsylvania … [Read more...]
CDC Tracking 5 Overlapping Turtle Salmonella Outbreaks in 27 States
Five overlapping Salmonella outbreaks linked to human contact with small turtles have sickened at least 124 people in 27 states, prompting the continuation of a public health investigation that began last year. One of the outbreaks dates back to June 2011 and another to August 2011. Two new outbreaks have unfolded since early last month, sprouting new geographic distributions of Salmonella infections that are spreading in many cases from human contact with contaminated water in the turtles' environments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 7 of 10 outbreak victims are children under the age of 10. In many cases the turtles are pets purchased from street vendors because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale and distribution of … [Read more...]
