CDC identifies turtles purchased online as source of Salmonella outbreak - FaunaClassifieds
FaunaClassifieds  
  Tired of those Google and InfoLink ads? Upgrade Your Membership!
  Inside FaunaClassifieds » Photo Gallery  
 

Go Back   FaunaClassifieds > Reptile & Amphibian - General Discussion Forums > Herps In The News

Notices

Herps In The News Local or national articles where reptiles or amphibians have made it into the news media. Please cite sources.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-23-2022, 11:22 PM   #1
Socratic Monologue
CDC identifies turtles purchased online as source of Salmonella outbreak

https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/...ella-outbreak/

CDC identifies turtles purchased online as source of Salmonella outbreak

By Jonan Pilet on July 23, 2022

Small turtles purchased online have been linked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 15 people and hospitalized at least five since January of this year.

Many people in this outbreak reported purchasing turtles with shells less than 4 inches long from online stores before getting sick. Three people in this outbreak purchased their turtles from a website called myturtlestore.com. The same strain of Salmonella making people sick in this outbreak was also found on turtles purchased from myturtlestore.com.

Federal law bans the sale and distribution of turtles less than 4 inches long as pets. However, these turtles can sometimes be found illegally online and at stores, flea markets, and roadside stands.

Pet turtles of any size can carry Salmonella even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to their bodies, tank water, and anything in the area where they live and roam.

The CDC advises that you take steps to stay healthy around your pet turtle (tips can be found at the bottom of the article).

Do not buy small turtles with shells less than 4 inches long, including online from myturtlestore.com.

The outbreak

As of July 19, 2022, a total of 15 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Stanley have been reported from 11 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from Jan. 3 to June 24, 2022.

Sick people range in age from less than one year to 59 years with 71 percent of ill people being female. Of the 12 people with information available, 5 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported in connection with this outbreak.

According to the CDC, the true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the animals they came into contact with in the week before they got sick.

Of the 9 people interviewed, 8 reported touching turtles. Of the 7 people interviewed about the size of their turtle, 6 reported contact with a pet turtle with a shell less than 4 inches long. Of the 7 people interviewed about where they purchased their turtles, 6 reported purchasing their small turtles from online retailers. Of the 6 people who purchased their turtles online, 3 purchased from a website called myturtlestore.com.

How the CDC found the source of this outbreak

On May 9, 2022, the Tennessee Department of Health collected samples from two small turtles in a sick person’s home for testing. These turtles were purchased from myturtlestore.com. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the Salmonella on the turtles and their environment match bacteria from sick people.

Helpful tips from the CDC, If you are thinking of getting a pet turtle:

Only buy turtles with shells longer than 4 inches and buy them from a reputable pet store
Reputable pet stores do not sell turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.
Pick the right pet for your family
Pet turtles are not recommended for children younger than 5, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. These people are more likely to get a serious illness from germs that turtles can carry.

Always take these steps to stay healthy around your pet turtle:

Wash your hands
Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching or feeding your turtle and after touching or cleaning the area where it lives and roams.
Adults should make sure young children are washing their hands properly.
Play safely
Don’t kiss or snuggle your turtle, and don’t eat or drink around it. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.
Keep your turtle out of your kitchen and other areas where you eat, store, or prepare food.
Keep things clean
Clean your turtle supplies outside the house, if possible. These supplies may include its tank, toys, and feeders.
If you clean the supplies indoors, don’t clean them in the kitchen or other areas where you eat or prepare food. Use a laundry sink or bathtub, and thoroughly clean and disinfect the area right after.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:

Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102° degrees F
Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving
Bloody diarrhea
So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, such as:
Not urinating much
Dry mouth and throat
Feeling dizzy when standing up
 
Old 07-23-2022, 11:36 PM   #2
Socratic Monologue
Note that the term 'online' appears eight times in the news report. The link between online herp sales and hospitalized babies ("less than one year") is not going to be lost on those people who already have irrational fears of reptiles and their prominence online.

Note also that the article fails to mention that most cases of salmonellosis are caused by eating undercooked meat, eggs or unpasteurized milk. Neither does it point out that the identified vendor is not representative of all the members of the irrationally feared group.

The article is, I think, a good example of how isolated bad behavior (selling baby turtles with no attempt whatsoever to make sure they get into responsible hands) combined with the push to demonify some group or other can make the group all look pretty bad, at least to people who want the group to look that way.
 

Join now to reply to this thread or open new ones for your questions & comments! FaunaClassifieds.com is the largest online community about Reptile & Amphibians, Snakes, Lizards and number one classifieds service with thousands of ads to look for. Registration is open to everyone and FREE. Click Here to Register!

 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
US Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Associated With Aquatic Frogs wcreptiles Herps In The News 1 03-12-2013 06:06 AM
Largest Turtle-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 107 People, Mostly Kids wcreptiles Herps In The News 6 10-23-2009 07:34 AM
http://www.sundialreptile.com/ is the best online source for beardies sixgunsun1177 Board of Inquiry® 2 06-12-2003 10:48 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:42 AM.







Fauna Top Sites


Powered by vBulletin® Version
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Page generated in 0.04406190 seconds with 10 queries
Content copyrighted ©2002-2022, FaunaClassifieds, LLC