Turtles the cause of Salmonella outbreak

*Raph's Girl* · 01-25-2008, 06:23 PM

Saw this on the news and just HAD to find an article on it...

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=86631

Quote:

The CDC today blamed small pet turtles for infecting at least 44 people in five states with salmonella bacteria.

Salmonella infection usually causes diarrhea, which may be bloody. Serious complications and death can also occur but are rarer.

Those cases, which happened since May 2007, mostly affected young kids who played with or cared for the turtles. No deaths have been linked to the salmonella outbreak. Cases were reported in California, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

"These turtles are a risk to the public and especially to young children," states the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

This isn't the first time that the CDC has warned the public that turtles (and other reptiles) can carry salmonella bacteria. But 80% of the patients in the current outbreak didn't know that.

A baby girl in Florida died in March 2007 from salmonella infection from her family's small pet turtle. That case happened before the current outbreak began, according to the CDC.

People can catch salmonella by handling turtles or touching surfaces that have been tainted by salmonella in turtle feces.

Due to salmonella risk, the U.S. government bans the sale of pet turtles with shells less than 4 inches long except for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes. That ban has been in place since 1975.

The CDC has published guidelines for avoiding salmonella from reptiles. But the CDC says that the ban on the sale and distribution of small pet turtles is still the best strategy, due to the "particular hazard" of salmonella infection from those turtles.

*KROW* · 01-26-2008, 12:00 AM

Those accursed reptiles!

Hm... Could it be perhaps the certain species of turtle? Is it possible that their skin or shell secretes toxins when feeling threatened? I'm no whatchamacallogist about this kind of thing, but just saying that "small pet turtles cause salmonella" doesn't hold much weight.

**Jo Dawn** · 01-26-2008, 09:14 AM

...How is this news to those people? I've known reptiles carry salmonella my whole life. It's why I could never have one growing up. How could those people NOT know this?

*Kunoichi_Haruko* · 01-26-2008, 09:18 AM

Turns out 'common knowledge' just ain't so common, Jo.

**Jo Dawn** · 01-26-2008, 09:23 AM

Well, then I daresay concerning them it's not so much common knowledge but stupidity. Especially when you have a kid. I would never buy a pet for myself and especially not a child without fully researching it.

*Scandia* · 01-26-2008, 10:01 AM

That's old news.

This country is strict and overprotective when it comes to things like that.

~~Jack Skellington~~ · 01-30-2008, 10:14 PM

wow so theese are the creatures i've worshipped... (rips off tmnt shirt) WHYYYYY!!!

*Drtooth* · 01-31-2008, 10:05 AM

I can see it all now:

Leo: I got an idea. This will finally get Shredder out of our hair once and for all.

Mike: So, like what do we do?

Leo: What else? We handle all his food.

*Mr._Mutant_Man* · 01-31-2008, 12:25 PM

I probably read about reptiles and salmonella before, but it's not the kind of thing you really keep in mind on a consistent basis.

Getting an idea for a fanfic:

"Hey dude, everyone in New York is getting really sick. I bet that lousy Shredder has something to do with it!"

"Actually..." Donatello interrupted, "according to the tests I ran....it's us!"

"Major bummer dude," Michelangelo sighed. "This is so bogus. I'm going to go...sulk in the sewer now. Maybe get a black bandanna...listen to some Simple Plan dudes."

Michelangelo walks away from his brothers, looking down at the street.

(Cue that How Could This Happen To Me song)

01-26-2008, 12:00 AM	#2
KROW Meat-n-Potatoes Man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: State's Anus, NY Posts: 6,472	Those accursed reptiles! Hm... Could it be perhaps the certain species of turtle? Is it possible that their skin or shell secretes toxins when feeling threatened? I'm no whatchamacallogist about this kind of thing, but just saying that "small pet turtles cause salmonella" doesn't hold much weight. __________________ - Optimus Acid Trip - Cult of a Half-Shell - Raiden's Bitter Tongue - *I don't try to be funny; I fail at it naturally.*

01-26-2008, 09:14 AM	#3
Jo Dawn Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Authority On All Things Don Posts: 5,190	...How is this news to those people? I've known reptiles carry salmonella my whole life. It's why I could never have one growing up. How could those people NOT know this? __________________

01-26-2008, 09:18 AM	#4
Kunoichi_Haruko A shell of a good hit! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, Va. Posts: 1,685	Turns out 'common knowledge' just ain't so common, Jo. __________________

01-26-2008, 09:23 AM	#5
Jo Dawn Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Authority On All Things Don Posts: 5,190	Well, then I daresay concerning them it's not so much common knowledge but stupidity. Especially when you have a kid. I would never buy a pet for myself and especially not a child without fully researching it. __________________

01-26-2008, 10:01 AM	#6
Scandia Mad Scientist Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,265	That's old news. This country is strict and overprotective when it comes to things like that. __________________ Turtles fight with honor!!!

01-30-2008, 10:14 PM	#7
~~Jack Skellington~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: halloweentown Posts: 161	wow so theese are the creatures i've worshipped... (rips off tmnt shirt) WHYYYYY!!!

01-31-2008, 10:05 AM	#8
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	I can see it all now: Leo: I got an idea. This will finally get Shredder out of our hair once and for all. Mike: So, like what do we do? Leo: What else? We handle all his food. __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

01-31-2008, 12:25 PM	#9
Mr._Mutant_Man Mad Scientist Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,340	I probably read about reptiles and salmonella before, but it's not the kind of thing you really keep in mind on a consistent basis. Getting an idea for a fanfic: "Hey dude, everyone in New York is getting really sick. I bet that lousy Shredder has something to do with it!" "Actually..." Donatello interrupted, "according to the tests I ran....it's us!" "Major bummer dude," Michelangelo sighed. "This is so bogus. I'm going to go...sulk in the sewer now. Maybe get a black bandanna...listen to some Simple Plan dudes." Michelangelo walks away from his brothers, looking down at the street. (Cue that How Could This Happen To Me song)