Baby's Death Suspected as Salmonella from Pet Turtle

[VoodooChile]

Baby's Salmonella Death LInked to Pet Turtle

Baby's Salmonella Infection Tied to Family's Small Pet Turtle, Says CDC
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

July 9, 2007 -- A baby girl in Florida died in March of salmonella infection linked to her family's small pet turtle, the CDC reports.

The 3-week-old girl had been sick for a day before being taken to a hospital emergency room and then immediately transferred to a pediatric hospital. She had a fever, went into shock, and died on March 1, according to the CDC.

A family friend had given the girl's family a small pet turtle in January 2007. The turtle had been bought as a pet at a flea market.

The U.S. has banned the sale of small turtles (those with a shell shorter than 4 inches long) since 1975. The ban is intended to help prevent salmonella infection in children, but it's not always observed.

Salmonella bacteria cause salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, which typically includes diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most cases of salmonella infection aren't fatal. But young children, elderly adults, and people with weak immune systems may be particularly vulnerable to severe salmonella infection.


Salmonella and Pet Turtles

The CDC also notes 12 nonfatal U.S. cases of salmonella infection linked to turtles from October 2006 through April 2007.

Nine of those 12 patients had turtles as household pets; they had had their pet turtles for various lengths of time, ranging from less than a month to nearly five years.

Most turtles carry salmonella bacteria and occasionally shed those bacteria in their feces. Salmonella can spread to people through direct or indirect contact with a turtle or its feces.

There are no methods guaranteed to rid turtles of salmonella, notes that CDC.

"All turtles, regardless of [shell] size, should be handled as though they are infected with salmonella," says the CDC in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Salmonella infections have also been linked to other reptiles and amphibians, notes the CDC.

[Ekke]

Thats scary. My kids are 1 and 3 but I don't let them play with my snake.

[richardduckworth]

it should be noted that the media treats salmonella like they treat pitbulls. most "pitbull attacks" are not from pitbulls. most "salmonella infections" are not salmonella. i read once that as little as 1 in 4 "salmonellosis stories" were actually about salmonella. they said a lot of times, they'll simply call it that as soon as they find out a reptile is in the house and will actually stop investigating it altogether and throw that to the media so they can chew on it.

it's like food poisoning too, most of those cases are also totally bogus. the culprit is usually one of the rapidly evolving stomach viruses and coupled with dehydration and poor healthcare, bad things happen.

not to mention, we're talking about a 3 week old girl and i've had 3 week old girls twice, it's doubtful the parents were playing with the baby turtle then playing with baby. they were probably still getting settled in and running around like chickens with their heads cut off, which, by the way, also carry salmonella. a LOT of chicken you buy from stores contains salmonella.

just recently, an e. coli outbreak in my area was linked to lettuce. the food we eat is far more dangerous than anything but a gun.

[BWSmith]

I have been doing this for a while and I have only known maybe 3 or 4 herpers to get Salmonella. And if you saw Marc Farber's pet shop, you would know why he got it at least once a year. Ricky is absolutely right in that as soon as they find out that there are reptiles in the house, the infection is automatically attributed to them. Now while all reptiles are CAPABLE of carrying Salmonella, to my knowledge, aquatic turtles and iguanas are the most common vectors. I have never known of a snake infecting someone and I certainly have never heard of an amphibian carrying the bacteria as the article states.

I wonder how many CDC folks are PETA members.

	Iguana Iguana

[Ekke]

Thanks Now I feel much better I know that the chance was there and after this story I was realy afraid. But after your posts I won't run out and sell my snake. Just invest in stronger disinfectant soap.

[LukaTisus]

I grew up with a turtle and I never once got sick from handling it, and being the rambunctious little kid I was, I never always washed my hands. *Guilty* I was rather lucky in that sense. I've had my snakes for years too and haven't caught a thing from it and half the time when I do get sick it's because of something I catch from someone at work, or like Richard said--something I eat. Turtles may carry it, but if the enclosure is kept half decently clean and the right precautions taken, the risk is reduced. It's the same with any animal, really..

I think I had something else to attribute to this, but for some reason as I started typing, any thought in my head kind of melted out my ears. x__x Time for Tashii to go back to sleep, methinks. XD

[John_E_Dove]

Another great example as to why we must stress proper sanitation after handling practices. Anyone want to bet they also cleaned the turtle tank in the kitchen sink?

[VoodooChile]

The household kitchen sponge, and doorhandles are probably nastier than the poor turtle. Which makes me think,how can they, without a doubt, state it was the turtle and not something else that transmitted the salmonella to the baby?

It's funny you made the statement about the CDC and PETA, BW..
I was thinking exactly that when I read the article.



I'm afraid this case screams, "uneducated reptile keeper". Most people keep hand sanitizer or wash their hands, especially just before dealing with a small baby, especially when they have reptiles. I wash my hands after messing around in the fish tank.

Honestly, it could have just as easily been E. coli from fecal matter, or Influenza that killed the baby if they didn't practice good hygiene by washing their hands first.

Very sad for the family, no matter the reason.