The usual association with salmonella outbreaks involves contaminated food, but a recent investigation by the Centers for Disease Control has uncovered an unexpected source for an ongoing outbreak in 11 states: pet turtles.
The CDC has initiated an active probe into a multi-state outbreak that has affected at least 26 individuals, with 9 requiring hospitalization. The common factor among these cases is contact with small turtles, defined as those with shells measuring less than 4 inches in length.
Federal law prohibits the sale of small turtles due to their high likelihood of carrying and transmitting illness. However, these turtles are still illicitly sold in some pet stores, online markets, flea markets, reptile shows, and roadside stands, according to the CDC.
This salmonella outbreak likely encompasses more cases than officially recorded since many individuals recover at home without undergoing testing, and it can take several weeks to confirm if a patient is part of the outbreak.
Children under the age of 5 account for 31% of the identified cases, as they are more vulnerable to illnesses from turtles and similar pets. The illness onset dates reported range from October 27, 2022, to July 16, 2023.
Of the affected individuals, 80% had been in contact with pet turtles, and 92% of those reported that their turtles had shells measuring less than 4 inches. Approximately 64% of these individuals purchased their turtles online, while 38% acquired them from pet stores.
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