CDC: Small Turtles are a Significant Source of Salmonella Illness in Humans
Sales of small turtles were banned in the United States 40 years ago, after researchers determined the popular pets caused an estimated 280,000 Salmonella infections each year, mostly in children.
A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis published in the January 2016 issue of Pediatrics (published online Dec. 23) found that while the ban on turtles less than 4 inches in length helped reduce pediatric turtle-associated Salmonella illnesses, today the public largely is unaware that turtles often carry Salmonella, and outbreaks continue to occur.
The analysis, “Outbreaks of Salmonellosis from Small Turtles,” identifies eight multistate outbreaks between 2011 and 2013, which resulted in 473 illnesses from 41 states and U.S. territories.
As was the case in the 1970s, most illnesses occurred among young children, who are more likely to touch their mouths while playing with the turtles and increase exposure to the potentially deadly bacteria. Given the large pediatric population affected, pediatricians and their staff are uniquely well-positioned to educate families about steps they can take to reduce the risk of turtle-associated salmonellosis.