Pet Turtles Can Carry Salmonella

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There are 107 people that have become sick from turtles.  This is the biggest salmonella outbreak blamed on turtles nationwide.  This covers 34 states.  One third of the children have been hospitalized for this outbreak.  The American Veterinary Medical Association estimated that the number of pet turtles doubled from 950,000 in 1996 to almost 2 million in 2006.  Pet turtles that carry the salmonella disease show no symptoms.  They carry it on their shell and body.  It can be transferred by handling the turtles.  Many children are contracting the disease from swimming in the pool with their pet turtle, kissing them, putting them in their mouth or just handling them and not washing their hands.  This is something that should be taken seriously.  Children and parents should think twice before getting a pet turtle. 

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