Small Turtles Bought Online Causes Salmonella Outbreak in the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have connected a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 15 individuals in 11 states and hospitalized at least five since January of this year to small turtles bought online.

Giant Turtle blocking our way on the Galapagos Island. Cedric Fox/Unsplash

Salmonella Outbreak on Turtles

According to the report, many victims admitted to buying turtles from internet retailers with shells no longer than four inches before becoming ill. Three individuals in the outbreak bought their turtles from the website myturtlestore.com.

At least 572 people have fallen ill this year due to a nationwide Salmonella outbreak, with illnesses occurring between February and June and affecting 48 states. The ages of sick people range from under one year to 59 years, with 71% of sick people being female. Five of the 12 individuals with information have been admitted to hospitals. There have been no confirmed fatalities related to this outbreak. The onset of the illnesses ranged from January 3 to June 24, 2022.

The CDC stated last week that the actual number of infected people is most likely substantially higher than the number of cases that have been recorded. The agency warned that several people in the outbreak purchased tiny turtles online before getting sick.

According to Food Safety News, eight of the nine respondents interviewed said they had handled turtles. Six of the seven people whose turtle size was being questioned said they had a pet turtle whose shell was less than four inches long. Six of the seven customers whose purchase history was inquired about said they got their little turtles from online vendors. Three of the six people who bought turtles online did so via the myturtlestore.com website.

Two small turtles were taken from a sick person's residence on May 9, 2022, by the Tennessee Department of Health for testing. Myturtlestore.com was used to purchase these turtles. Salmonella on the turtles and in their habitat matched bacteria from sick individuals, according to whole genome sequencing (WGS).

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Selling Small Turtles

Since 1975, selling tiny turtles as pets has been prohibited in the US. Salmonella is contagious and can be spread by any pet turtle's droppings to its habitat, tank water, and other things. The CDC warns that small turtles are dangerous since kids are more likely to handle them. Even if they appear clean and in good health, pet turtles of any size can transmit salmonella. Their bodies, tank water, and anything else nearby is all quickly contaminated by these bacteria where they reside and travel.

"Never purchase small turtles with shells shorter than four inches," the agency said. Federal law bans the sale of these small turtles as pets because they have caused many Salmonella outbreaks, but they are sometimes available for sale online and at stores, flea markets, and roadside stands."

The CDC is looking into numerous salmonella cases connected to pet reptiles. The organization declared earlier this year that bearded dragon pets brought on a bearded dragon outbreak affecting 44 people in 25 states. However, small turtles are the most prone to the sickness of all domesticated reptiles.