FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 27, 2010

Salmonella not just a problem with recalled eggs

With the national attention currently focused on recalled eggs potentially contaminated with Salmonella, metropolitan area Health Departments urge residents, workers and visitors to protect themselves from other potential sources of salmonella infections, including pet reptiles.

A Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, usually happens when Salmonella bacteria enters your body through your mouth, either in undercooked contaminated food or water, or after handling contaminated human or animal feces or contaminated pets.

Birds and reptiles often carry the bacteria but appear completely healthy. An estimated 4 million households have a pet reptile, such as a snake, turtle, tortoise, iguana or lizard. People can become infected by not washing their hands after handling their pet reptiles, cleaning their enclosures and contact with water containing reptile feces, and by using reptile byproducts in folk medicines like rattlesnake capsules. Pet reptiles should not be treated with antibiotics to try to clear the infection, as that may result in the development of antibiotic resistant Salmonella.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year 70,000 people in the United States get salmonellosis from contact with reptiles,” said Dr. Rex Archer, director of the City of Kansas City, Mo., Health Department. “If you have a pet reptile, you really should be taking steps to protect yourself and your family.”

The following steps help prevent Salmonella infection from a reptile:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling any reptile.
• Keep reptiles out of the kitchen and away from any surface where food is stored, prepared or served.
• Do not use kitchen sinks to clean reptiles, reptile accessories or caging materials.
• Do not touch food for human consumption, dishes, pots, pans or other utensils used for human food after touching any reptile or reptile accessory.
• Keep reptile enclosures, food and water bowls and other surfaces as clean as possible; avoid splashing water in your face while cleaning these; if necessary, consider wearing goggles, face masks and surgical gloves.
• Do not allow unsupervised handling of reptiles by children under 12 years old.
• Do not handle any reptiles or their caging materials with open cuts on your hands unless they are well-bandaged; rubber gloves are recommended in this situation.
• Do not use bathrooms or shower stalls for reptile or equipment cleaning unless you thoroughly disinfect the area afterwards.
• Speak with a pharmacist, doctor, veterinarian or other health or pet care professional for recommendations on soaps and other products for cleaning and disinfecting hands and other services.
• Carry disinfectant soaps, pump sprays or similar products when taking your reptile places they will likely be handled.

Reptiles should not be kept in any childhood day care center. If they are kept in school classrooms, they should not be handled unless appropriate handwashing and clean-up facilities are available to children and staff.

The most common symptoms of a Salmonella infection are the sudden onset of headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. These symptoms usually develop within 12 to 72 hours after infection and can last four to seven days.  If you have these symptoms, make sure to stay hydrated.

Most people recover without treatment, but in severe illnesses, hospitalization is necessary. In some cases, the infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and to other areas of the body, which can be deadly if untreated.

The following groups should avoid all contact with any reptile, as their risk of serious infection with Salmonella is greatly increased:

• Infants and children up to five years old
• Pregnant women
• Those who are elderly, frail or with poor nutritional status
• Any with challenged immune systems, including people with HIV/AIDS, transplant patients on anti-rejection therapy, steroids, cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

If you have any questions, contact your local health department for more information.

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