Salmonella are bacteria that can live in the intestinal tract of many different animals. Salmonella can make both people and animals sick.

Many animals and pets can carry these germs, even if they look clean and healthy. Animals that can spread Salmonella to people include

• Poultry (chicks, chickens, ducklings, ducks, geese, and turkeys)
• Other birds (wild birds)
• Reptiles (turtles, lizards, and snakes)
• Amphibians (frogs and toads)
• Rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, and guinea pigs)
• Other small mammals (hedgehogs)
• Farm animals (goats, calves, cows, sheep, and pigs)

How Salmonella spreads to animals

Animals get Salmonella from their environment, by eating contaminated food, or from their mothers before they are even born or hatched. Most animals do not get sick from Salmonella. Animals can carry Salmonella and still appear healthy and clean. Salmonella naturally lives in their intestines and can be found in their feces (poop). The bacteria in poop can easily contaminate the animals’ body parts (fur, feathers, or scales) and anything in areas where these animals live and roam (like a terrarium or aquarium, chicken coop, pen, or fencing).

Animals that do get sick from Salmonella might have diarrhea. Sick animals may seem more tired than usual and may vomit or have a fever.

Pets and Salmonella

If your pet has symptoms of Salmonella or you are concerned that your pet may have a Salmonella infection, contact your veterinarian. Salmonella infections may require prompt treatment with supportive care and fluids. If your pet is very sick, it may need to be hospitalized in a veterinary clinic. Your veterinarian is the best source of advice on your pet’s health.

Because pet food and treats can be contaminated with Salmonella, tell your veterinarian if your pet recently ate a product that has been recalled. Do not feed your pet any more of the recalled product. Throw the product away immediately.

How Salmonella spreads from animals to people

People can get sick with Salmonella if they do not wash their hands after contact with animals carrying Salmonella or items in their environment, such as their bedding, food, or tank water. Additionally, reptiles and amphibians that live in tanks or aquariums can contaminate the water with Salmonella, which can make people sick even if they don’t touch the animal. Some pet products, like pet foods and treats, can be contaminated with Salmonella and other germs. Pet food and treats that could be contaminated include dry dog or cat food, raw pet food, dog biscuits, pig ears, beef hooves, and rodents used to feed reptiles (including frozen feeder rodents).

Salmonella in People

People infected with Salmonella might have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Some people—especially children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.

People most at risk for serious illness

Anyone can get sick from Salmonella, but some people are more likely than others to get severely sick. This includes:

• Children younger than 5 years old
• Adults 65 and older
• People with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV, organ transplant patients, and people receiving chemotherapy

Some animals are more likely to spread Salmonella to people, including poultry, reptiles, amphibians, and rodents. These animals are not recommended as pets for people at higher risk of severe illness from Salmonella.

Prevention

The best way to prevent getting Salmonella from animals is to always wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and running water immediately after touching animals, their food or treats, items in their environments, and their poop.

Children under 5 years old should not handle animals that are likely to spread Salmonella (like reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and poultry). They should also not touch items in these animals’ habitats or the water from containers or aquariums.

Never eat or drink around these animals, or in areas where they live and roam. Keep animals away from areas where food and drinks are prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens or outdoor patios.

Wash Your Hands

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling animals and anything where they live and roam. This includes
  • After feeding your pet or handing pet food or treats
  • After handling pet habitats or supplies (like cages, tanks, toys, and food and water dishes)
• Adults should always supervise handwashing for young children.

Clean and Disinfect Properly

• Use soap or a disinfectant to thoroughly clean items and surfaces that have come in contact with high-risk animals.
• Do not let children under 5 years old clean surfaces that have come in contact with poultry, reptiles, amphibians, or rodents. Supervise older children in cleaning and disinfecting.
• Clean your pet’s cage, terrarium, or aquarium and its contents (such as food and water bowls) outdoors, if possible. If you must clean your pet’s habitat indoors, use a bathtub or large sink and clean and disinfect it after.
• Once you finish cleaning, throw out the dirty wash water in a toilet or in a sink that is not used for food preparation or for drinking water.

Salmonella bacteria cause the foodborne illness salmonellosis. Named after Daniel E. Salmon, a veterinarian who spent his career studying animal diseases for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Salmonella bacteria have been known to make people sick since 1885.

The Statistics at a Glance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that each year in the U.S., there are about 1.35 million cases of salmonellosis, with 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. Contaminated food is the source for most of these cases. Salmonellosis is the second leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., after norovirus.

Characteristics

There are many different groups, called serotypes, of Salmonella. Scientists classify each serotype based on the structures on the bacteria’s surface. Some Salmonella serotypes are found in only one kind of animal or in only one place. Others are found in many different animals and all over the world. The serotypes also differ in how often they cause illness in people and in what types of food and other places they contaminate. Some serotypes can cause severe illness in people, while other cause milder illness. Scientists have described more than 2,500 Salmonella serotypes, but less than 100 cause most cases of salmonellosis in people. Both FDA and CDC consider all serotypes capable of infecting people.

Freezing and drying, which typically prevent the growth of bacteria, do not kill Salmonella. The bacteria can survive several weeks in dry environments and several months in wet environments.

How People Become Infected

People commonly get infected with Salmonella by eating contaminated food, such as:

• Raw or undercooked meat and poultry products;
• Raw or undercooked eggs and egg products;
• Raw or unpasteurized milk and other dairy products; and
• Raw fruits and vegetables.

People can also become infected with Salmonella by handling contaminated food, and then accidentally transferring the bacteria from their hands to their mouth. If people get Salmonella on their hands or clothes, they can spread the bacteria to other people, objects, and surfaces.

Pet food can sometimes be the source of Salmonella infection. If people handle contaminated pet food or a contaminated utensil and then touch their mouth, they can accidentally ingest the bacteria. Pet food that contains raw or uncooked meat is more likely than processed pet food to test positive for Salmonella.

Many animals, especially cattle, chickens, rodents, reptiles, and amphibians, can naturally carry Salmonella in their intestines and show no signs of illness. People can get salmonellosis from handling these animals. Salmonella can also get on the inside and outside of cages, aquariums and terrariums. Feeder rodents fed to some pet reptiles and amphibians can be a source of the bacteria. Direct contact with feeder rodents or contaminated items in animal habitats can spread Salmonella to people.

Salmonellosis in People

Salmonella infection most often causes gastroenteritis, which can range from mild to severe. Symptoms in people start within 6 hours to 6 days after ingesting the bacteria and include:

• Fever;
• Diarrhea (which may be bloody);
• Nausea;
• Vomiting; and
• Stomach pain.

Most people recover from salmonellosis in 4 to 7 days without treatment. In some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the person needs to be hospitalized. In a person with severe diarrhea, the bacteria may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other places in the body. If this happens, the disease can be fatal unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Children under 5, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer or other diseases) have a higher risk of getting salmonellosis and are more likely to have severe symptoms.

Salmonellosis in Dogs and Cats

Salmonellosis is uncommon in dogs and cats, but they can be carriers of the bacteria. This means that even if the pets don’t show symptoms of salmonellosis, they can still shed Salmonella in their stool and saliva and then spread the bacteria to the home environment and to people and other pets in the household. For example, cats can spread Salmonella through shared litter boxes or when roaming throughout the house, such as on kitchen countertops. Some ways dogs can spread the bacteria is when they give people kisses or have stool accidents inside the home. Pet waste from both sick and healthy pets can be a source of infection for people.

When the disease is seen in an adult dog or cat, the animal typically has another infection or health problem at the same time. Puppies and kittens are more likely to show signs of disease. Signs of salmonellosis in dogs and cats include:

• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea (which may be bloody);
• Fever;
• Loss of appetite; and
• Decreased activity level.

Salmonellosis in Horses

Salmonellosis is a common cause of diarrhea in adult horses. Horses can become infected with Salmonella by coming into contact with the bacteria in a contaminated environment, eating contaminated feed, or drinking contaminated water. Horses can also become infected by direct contact with animals that are actively shedding the bacteria in their stool.

Stress appears to play an important role. Often, a horse sick with salmonellosis has recently:

• Had surgery;
• Been hospitalized;
• Been transported;
• Had a change in feed;
• Had another disease, particularly colic; or
• Been treated with antibiotics.

There are three forms of salmonellosis in adult horses:

• Carrier—horses appear healthy but intermittently shed Salmonella in small numbers in their stool. Carrier horses can spread the bacteria to other horses by direct contact or by contaminating the environment or feed and water sources. If stressed, carrier horses may show signs of salmonellosis.
• Mild—horses have a decreased activity level, fever, loss of appetite, and soft but not watery stool. Signs may last 4 to 5 days and usually go away on their own. After recovery, horses may continue to shed Salmonella in their stool for days to months.
• Sudden and severe—horses have a severely decreased activity level, fever, and loss of appetite. These signs come on suddenly. Diarrhea develops 6 to 24 hours after the fever. The diarrhea is fluid and foul smelling, and horses can become dehydrated quickly. There may be signs of stomach pain, straining, or severe colic. Horses may develop a blood infection and clotting problems. The disease progresses quickly, and if untreated, this form of salmonellosis is often fatal.

Salmonellosis can occur in newborn foals, causing a blood infection followed by diarrhea.

Salmonella bacteria are the most frequently reported cause of foodborne illness. In order to reduce salmonellosis, a comprehensive farm-to-table approach to food safety is necessary. Farmers, industry, food inspectors, retailers, food service workers, and consumers are each critical links in the food safety chain. Having a better understanding of Salmonella, its causes, and how to prevent it will help you do your part to keep food safe.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacilli that can cause diarrheal illness in humans. They are microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or other animals.

The Salmonella family includes over 2,300 serotypes of bacteria which are one-celled organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Two serotypes, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are the most common in the United States and account for half of all human infections. Strains that cause no symptoms in animals can make people sick, and vice versa. If present in food, it does not usually affect the taste, smell, or appearance of the food. The bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of infected animals and humans.

Salmonella bacteria have been known to cause illness for over 100 years. They were discovered by an American scientist, Dr. Daniel E. Salmon.

What is salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Salmonella. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonellosis causes an estimated 1.4 million cases of foodborne illness and more than 400 deaths annually in the United States. The Surveillance Report from the Food Diseases Active Surveillance (FoodNet) for 2007, identified Salmonella as the most common bacterial infection reported.

FoodNet is a collaborative project among CDC, the 10 Emerging Infections Program sites (EPIs), USDA, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One of the objectives of FoodNet is to measure effectiveness of a variety of preventive measures in reducing the incidence of foodborne illness attributable to the consumption of meat, poultry, and other foods.

What are the symptoms of salmonellosis?

Although in some people salmonellosis could asymptomatic, most people experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 8 to 72 hours after the contaminated food was eaten. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms usually disappear within 4 to 7 days. Many people with salmonellosis recover without treatment and may never see a doctor. However, Salmonella infections can be life-threatening especially for infants and young children, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and older adults, who are at a higher risk for foodborne illness, as are people with weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and transplant patients).

Are there long-term consequences?

Persons with diarrhea usually recover completely, although it may be several months before their bowel habits are entirely normal. A small number of persons who are infected with Salmonella may develop pains in their joints, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. This is called Reiter's syndrome. It can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis that is difficult to treat.

How do people get salmonellosis?

Salmonella lives in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella is usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Salmonella present on raw meat and poultry could survive if the product is not cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature, as measured with a food thermometer. Salmonella can also cause foodborne illness (salmonellosis) through cross-contamination, e.g., when juices from raw meat or poultry come in contact with ready-to-eat foods, such as salads.

Food may also become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler who might or might not be showing symptoms. Salmonella can also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea. People can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with these feces. Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella. People should always wash their hands immediately after handling a reptile, even if the reptile is healthy.

What foods are most likely to make people sick?

Any raw food of animal origin, such as meat, poultry, milk and dairy products, eggs, seafood, and some fruits and vegetables may carry Salmonella bacteria. The bacteria can survive to cause illness if meat, poultry, and egg products are not cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer and fruits and vegetables are not thoroughly washed. The bacteria can also contaminate other foods that come in contact with raw meat and poultry. Safe food handling practices are necessary to prevent bacteria on raw food from causing illness.

Are chickens labeled "Kosher," "free-range," "organic," or "natural" lower in Salmonella bacteria?

FSIS does not know of any valid scientific information that shows that any specific type of chicken has more or less Salmonella bacteria than other poultry.

What is FSIS doing to prevent Salmonella contamination?

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is the public health regulatory Agency in the USDA responsible for the safety of the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry and egg products. As part of this responsibility, FSIS issued the "Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (PR/HACCP) Systems, Final Rule" in 1996. This rule sets Salmonella performance standards for establishments slaughtering selected classes of food animals or those producing selected classes of raw ground products to verify that industry systems are effective in controlling the contamination of raw meat and poultry products with disease-causing bacteria, like Salmonella.

FSIS inspectors make sure the establishments are meeting the standards by collecting randomly selected product samples and submitting them to an FSIS laboratory for Salmonella analysis. FSIS requires all plants to reduce bacteria by means of the PR/HACCP system.

How can consumers prevent salmonellosis?

Bacteria on raw foods of animal origin do not have to cause illness. The key to preventing illness at home, in a restaurant, at a church picnic, or anywhere else is to prevent the bacteria from growing to high levels and to destroy the bacteria through cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature. Follow these guidelines for safe food preparation:

CLEAN: Wash Hands and Surfaces Often

• Wash hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and handling pets.
• Wash utensils, cutting boards, dishes, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next item.
• Consider using paper towels to clean kitchen surfaces. If you use cloth towels, wash them often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.

SEPARATE: Don't Cross-contaminate

• Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your grocery shopping cart and in your refrigerator.
• If possible, use one cutting board for fresh produce and a separate one for raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Always wash cutting boards, dishes, countertops, and utensils with hot soapy water after they come in contact with raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
• Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood.

COOK: Cook to Safe Temperatures

Use a clean food thermometer when measuring the internal temperature of meat, poultry, casseroles, and other foods to make sure they have reached a safe minimum internal temperature:

• Cook all raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures.
• Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
• Cook all poultry to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
• Stuffed poultry is not recommended. Cook stuffing separately to 165 °F.
• Egg dishes, casseroles to 160 °F.
• Fish should reach 145 °F as measured with a food thermometer.
• Bring sauces, soups, and gravy to a boil when reheating.
• Reheat other leftovers thoroughly to at least 165 °F.

CHILL: Refrigerate Promptly

• Keep food safe at home, refrigerate promptly and properly. Refrigerate or freeze perishables, prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if temperatures are above 90 °F).
• Freezers should register 0 °F or below and refrigerators 40 °F or below.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave. Foods should not be thawed at room temperature. Foods thawed in the microwave or in cold water must be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature immediately after thawing.
• Marinate foods in the refrigerator.
• Divide large amounts of leftovers into shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator.

Salmonella are bacteria that can live in the intestinal tract of many different animals. Salmonella can make people sick with diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Some animals are more likely to spread Salmonella to people, like reptiles (snakes, turtles), amphibians (frogs, salamanders), backyard poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks), hedgehogs, and rodents (rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs).

People can get Salmonella if they do not wash their hands after contact with animals or their environment, such as their bedding, food, or tank water.

Pick the right pet

Animals that are more likely to spread Salmonella don’t make good pets for families with young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Wash your hands

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching:

• Animals, even pets
• Animal food or treats
• Items in areas where animals live and roam
• Animal poop or pee

Play safely with pets

Don’t kiss, snuggle, or hold animals close to your face. Don’t eat or drink around animals, and keep animals away from areas where food is prepared and served.

Clean up properly

Clean your pet’s cage, terrarium, or aquarium and its contents (such as food and water bowls) outdoors, if possible. If you must clean your pet’s supplies indoors, use a laundry sink or bathtub and thoroughly clean and disinfect it right after.

Every year people get Salmonella infections after handling poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, and the number of people getting sick is increasing.

Who is at risk: Anyone can get sick from Salmonella, but children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severe illness.

Signs in poultry: Poultry usually don’t show signs of Salmonella infection. Even if they look healthy and clean, poultry can still spread the bacteria to people.

Symptoms in people: Most people infected with Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.

Salmonella germs can spread between pet reptiles and people. Bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to their bodies and anything in the area where they live and roam.

Certain people are at higher risk

You can get sick when you touch your mouth with unwashed hands after touching your bearded dragon or anything in its surroundings. Certain people, especially children under 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems, can get very sick from Salmonella.

Follow these steps to stay healthy around your pet bearded dragon

• Wash your hands after touching or feeding your bearded dragon and after touching anywhere around its habitat.
• Play safely — don’t kiss or snuggle your bearded dragon, or eat or drink around them.
• Clean your bearded dragon supplies outside. This includes its tank, feeders, toys, and food and water containers. If you clean them indoors, use a laundry sink or bathtub instead of the kitchen sink, and thoroughly clean and disinfect the area right after.

If you are considering getting a pet bearded dragon:

Choose the right pet for your family. Households with children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems should not keep pet reptiles like bearded dragons. These people are more likely to get a serious illness from germs that reptiles can carry.

Salmonellosis is caused by Salmonella bacteria, which are most commonly spread through contaminated food. Salmonella also spreads from animals, including cats, to people and from people to people.

How it spreads: People can become infected by eating contaminated food or through contact with animal poop. Cats can become infected with Salmonella by eating infected birds, rodents, or contaminated pet food, especially raw pet food.

Who is at risk: Anyone can get a Salmonella infection, but children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk for serious illness.

Signs in cats: Adults cats typically do not show signs of infection. Infected kittens may have diarrhea.

Symptoms in people: People may experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms usually start within 6 hours–4 days after infection and last 4–7 days.

Salmonellosis is caused by Salmonella bacteria, which are most commonly spread through contaminated food. Salmonella can also spread from animals, including dogs, to people and from people to people.

How it spreads:Salmonella live in the intestines of people and animals. People and animals can get Salmonella by eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or by touching infected animals, their poop, or contaminated items or surfaces. Dogs and other animals that can carry Salmonella can appear healthy, but still be shedding germs that can make people sick. People can get infected if they don’t wash their hands right after touching an animal or its poop, food, toys, habitats, or being in areas where animals live and roam even if they did not touch the animal. Salmonella can also contaminate pet food, including raw food, some brands of dry food, treats, and chew toys like pig ears.

Who is at risk: Anyone can get a Salmonella infection, but children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk for serious illness.

Signs in dogs: Dogs typically don’t get sick from Salmonella infection, but those that do may have diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or loss of appetite and may not be as active as usual.

Symptoms in people: People may experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms usually start within 6 hours–6 days after infection and last 4–7 days. Some people’s illness may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

You may be one of the many Americans who owns a pet reptile or amphibian. Reptiles, such as corn snakes, iguanas, and red-eared sliders, and amphibians, such as frogs and toads, are unique creatures and can make for interesting pets. But pet reptiles and amphibians carry some risks to their owners, such as the potential for Salmonella infection. The reptiles and amphibians themselves as well as the feeder rodents fed to some of these animals can be sources of Salmonella infection for people.

What are feeder rodents?

Feeder rodents are mice and rats—both frozen and live—used to feed some reptiles, such as certain snakes and lizards, as well as some amphibians, such as “pacman” frogs.

Feeder rodents go by various names, depending on their age: pinkies (1 to 5 days old), fuzzies (6 to 13 days old), hoppers (14 to 20 days old), and adults (21 days and older).

What is salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. People get salmonellosis by ingesting Salmonella germs.

These germs can be found in the feces (sometimes called "droppings") of many different animals, such as reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and chickens, or in the areas where these animals live and roam. These germs can also be found in the aquarium water where certain animals, like turtles or water frogs, live as pets.

What are the symptoms of salmonellosis in people?

The symptoms of salmonellosis in people include diarrhea (which may be bloody), vomiting, fever, and stomach cramps. People start showing symptoms 6 hours to 6 days after they ingest Salmonella germs. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, the illness can be serious, even fatal, in some people. Children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for salmonellosis and may have more severe symptoms.

What should I do if I have symptoms of salmonellosis?

If you have any symptoms of salmonellosis, call your health care provider. Be sure to tell your health care provider if you have had recent contact with reptiles, amphibians, or feeder rodents.

How do feeder rodents, reptiles, and amphibians get Salmonella?

Feeder rodents, reptiles, and amphibians can naturally carry Salmonella in their intestines and show no signs of illness. The animals shed the bacteria in their feces and, in turn, the feces contaminate the environment with Salmonella, including the outside of the animals’ bodies and their habitats.

How do I become infected with Salmonella from feeder rodents, reptiles, or amphibians?

Feeder rodents, reptiles, and amphibians might have Salmonella germs on their bodies even when they appear healthy and clean. The germs can also get on the inside and outside of their cages, aquariums, and terrariums. You should consider anything that feeder rodents, reptiles, and amphibians touch as possibly contaminated with Salmonella. The germs can get on your hands and clothes when you touch these animals, their enclosures, or items in their habitat, such as bedding, basking rocks, and food and water dishes. You can also get Salmonella germs from touching contaminated surfaces or items used to store, thaw, and prepare feeder rodents, such as countertops, microwave ovens, refrigerators and freezers, kitchen utensils, glasses, and bowls.

Freezing does not kill Salmonella, so both frozen and live feeder rodents can be contaminated. Some companies may irradiate packages of frozen feeder rodents to lower the risk of Salmonella contamination. The labels on these packages will include the statement “treated with radiation” or “treated by irradiation” along with the international symbol for irradiation, the Radura.

Is salmonellosis the only disease I can get from rodents?

No, you can get other diseases from rodents besides salmonellosis. Worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases to people. Rodents spread some diseases directly to people through physical contact. This can happen if you handle an infected rodent, an infected rodent bites you, or you touch an infected rodent’s feces, urine, or saliva.

Rodents spread other diseases indirectly to people, meaning you can get sick without having any contact with an infected rodent. This can happen when a tick, mite, or flea feeds on an infected rodent and then bites you.

Be aware that feeder rodents, wild rodents, and pet rodents can all spread (transmit) diseases—directly or indirectly—to people.

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Salmonella Infection from Handling Frozen and Live Feeder Rodents – The Do’s and Don’ts

• DO thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) immediately after handling feeder rodents or anything in the area where they are stored, thawed, prepared, and fed to reptiles or amphibians.
• DO thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces that come in contact with feeder rodents. A bleach solution of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) water is an effective disinfectant. For a larger supply of solution, add ¼ cup bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) water.

The Difference between Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning removes germs (like bacteria), dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces or objects. This process doesn’t necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, cleaning lowers the number of germs and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals, such as bleach, to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process doesn’t necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

Source: How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• DO keep feeder rodents out of areas where food and drinks for people are stored, prepared, served, or eaten.
• DON’T thaw frozen feeder rodents in a microwave oven used for your own food.
• DON’T prepare feeder rodents or feed them to your pet reptile or amphibian with kitchen utensils that you use to prepare your own food. DO prepare feeder rodents and feed them to your pet with separate kitchen utensils used only for these purposes. DO clean and disinfect the utensils after each use.
• DON’T let children (especially those younger than 5 years), pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems handle or touch feeder rodents.

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Salmonella Infection from Handling Pet Reptiles and Amphibians – The Do’s and Don’ts

• DO thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) immediately after handling reptiles or amphibians. DO supervise children during hand washing.
• DO supervise children when they are handling reptiles or amphibians.
• DO thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces that come in contact with your pet reptile or amphibian, including objects in the areas where it lives and roams. Talk with your veterinarian about which disinfectant is safe to use and how often. The Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians has a Find a Vet page that lists veterinarians, by state, who have experience with these animals.
• DO clean your pet reptile’s or amphibian’s habitat and its contents outside and use disposable gloves when cleaning. DON’T dispose of the waste water from cleaning in sinks where you prepare your food or get your drinking water. DON’T clean the habitat and its contents near any sources of food (such as gardens or crop fields) or drinking water for people.
• DO flush waste water from your pet reptile or amphibian down the toilet. DO dispose of your pet's feces in a dedicated trash can stored away from your kitchen. DON'T dispose of feces or waste water down your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub.
• DON’T let children younger than 5 years, pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems handle or touch reptiles or amphibians. They also shouldn't handle or touch any object where these animals live and roam.
• DON’T house pet reptiles or amphibians in children's bedrooms, especially if the children are younger than 5 years. It’s best to keep reptiles and amphibians out of homes with children younger than 5 years, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
• DON’T touch your mouth after handling reptiles and amphibians and don’t eat, drink, or smoke until you have washed your hands thoroughly.
• DON’T kiss your pet reptile or amphibian.
• DON’T bathe your pet reptile in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub. DO bathe your pet reptile in a small plastic tub or bin used solely for this purpose.
• DON’T let your pet reptile roam freely throughout your house, especially in areas where food and drinks for people are stored, prepared, served, or eaten.

Salmonella are bacteria that can make people and animals sick with a disease called salmonellosis.

How it spreads: People can get infected with Salmonella bacteria by eating contaminated food, or through contact with an animal, its poop, food, or items like toys, food dishes, and habitats (cages, aquariums, aquarium water).

Who is at risk: Anyone can get a Salmonella infection, but children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious illness.

Signs in reptiles and amphibians:Salmonella bacteria live in the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy reptiles and amphibians. Salmonella infection usually doesn’t make these animals sick.

Symptoms in people: People may experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms usually start within 6 hours–4 days after infection and last 4–7 days.

Salmonella are bacteria that can make people and animals sick with a disease called salmonellosis.

How it spreads: People can get infected with Salmonella by eating contaminated food, or through contact with an animal or its poop, food, habitat, or items like toys and food dishes. People can get sick if they don’t wash their hands after touching their small mammal or anything in its environment and then touch their mouth and swallow Salmonella germs.

Who is at risk: Anyone can get sick from Salmonella, but children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get severe illness.

Signs in small mammals:Salmonella bacteria live in the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy rodents and small mammals. Salmonella infection usually doesn’t make these animals sick.

Symptoms in people: Most people infected with Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.

Turtles commonly carry the Salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces. Geckos can also infect people with Salmonella.

The little glassy-eyed creatures may look cute and harmless, but small turtles can make people very ill. Turtles commonly carry Salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces.

People can get infected with Salmonella by coming in contact with:

• Turtles or other reptiles (lizards, snakes);
• Amphibians (frogs, salamanders, newts); and
• The habitats of reptiles or amphibians, such as cages, tanks and aquariums.

Salmonella can cause a serious or even life-threatening infection in people, even though the bacteria do not make reptiles or amphibians sick. One example: the 2007 death of a 4-week-old baby in Florida linked to Salmonella from a small turtle. The DNA of the Salmonella from the turtle matched that from the infant.

People infected with Salmonella may have diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. Symptoms usually appear six to 72 hours after contact with the bacteria and last about two to seven days. Most people recover without treatment; but some can become so sick that they need to be treated in a hospital.

Who Is at Risk of Salmonella Infection

Anyone can get Salmonella infection. But the risk is highest in infants; young children; elderly people; and people with lowered natural resistance to infection because of pregnancy, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and other diseases.

“All reptiles and amphibians have the potential to be carriers of Salmonella,” says Vic Boddie II, Ph.D., a consumer safety officer in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “And if children come in contact with small turtles, they run the risk of becoming very ill.”

“Even if a small turtle doesn’t look sick, it may still carry Salmonella that could make young children sick. And unfortunately, children will unknowingly infect themselves,” Boddie says. “Kids have the tendency to put the small turtles in their mouths or play in the turtle habitat and then put their fingers in their mouths. Also, reptile habitats are sometimes cleaned in the kitchen sink, which could cross-contaminate food and eating utensils, thus posing a serious risk to both kids and the elderly.”

Surfaces such as countertops, tabletops, bare floors, and carpeting can also become contaminated with the bacteria if the turtle is allowed to roam on them. The bacteria may survive for a long time on those surfaces. Proper handling and hygiene practices are extremely important in preventing the spread of the bacteria and keeping you and your family healthy.

Infection From Turtles and Geckos

In four outbreaks between Jan. 16, 2015, and April 8, 2016, 133 people from 26 states were infected with Salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although there were no deaths associated with these Salmonella outbreaks, 38 people were hospitalized (41% of them were children age 5 or younger).

The investigation showed that shortly before many of the people became ill, they were exposed to a small turtle by touching, feeding, cleaning the habitat, or changing the water in the tank. Almost half of the people who had contact with small turtles reported buying and handling small turtles from a street vendor or receiving the turtle as a gift.

Geckos also can be the source of a Salmonella outbreak. Between Jan. 1, 2014, and June 16, 2015, CDC received reports of 22 people in 17 states who were infected with Salmonella associated with geckos. Geckos commonly live in aquariums or fish tanks, and could be carrying Salmonella but appear healthy and show no signs of illness.

As with turtles, these outbreaks generally affected children, and some infected individuals were hospitalized. It is extremely important that you and your family members wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after handling geckos or their habitats.

Advice for Consumers

• Don’t buy small turtles or other reptiles or amphibians for pets or as gifts.
• If your family is expecting a child, remove any reptile or amphibian from the home before the infant arrives.
• Keep reptiles and amphibians out of homes with children younger than 5, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems.
• Do not allow reptiles or amphibians to roam freely through the house, especially in food preparation areas.
• Do not clean aquariums or other supplies in the kitchen sink. Use bleach to disinfect a tub or other place where reptile or amphibian habitats are cleaned.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching any reptile or amphibian, its housing, or anything (for example, food) that comes in contact with the animal or its housing.
• Be aware that Salmonella infection can be caused by contact with reptiles or amphibians in petting zoos, parks, child-care facilities, or other locations.
• Watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection, such as diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and headache. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of those symptoms.

The Trouble with Tiny Turtles

While many people enjoy keeping pet reptiles, some are riskier than others. Here is what you need to know about pet turtles.

Any turtle can carry germs like Salmonella that can make people sick.

• Salmonella often makes people sick with diarrhea for 4 to 7 days. But for some people, especially young children and older adults, Salmonella can cause severe illness and hospitalization.
• People can get sick from Salmonella by touching turtles, their tank water, their supplies, or the areas where they live and roam.
• You can’t see germs like Turtles can look healthy and clean but still carry germs. These germs can spread to their tank water and things they touch.

Tiny turtles are especially risky and are illegal to sell as pets in the US.

CDC investigates many Salmonella outbreaks linked to pet reptiles. Among these outbreaks, tiny turtles have caused the most illnesses. In fact, the sale of tiny pet turtles has been banned in the US since 1975 because of the number of illnesses they cause and the risk to children. Although any turtle can carry germs, tiny turtles are especially risky because children are more likely to handle them and get sick.

If you have a pet turtle, take steps to keep you and your family healthy.

Always wash your hands right after touching, feeding, or caring for your turtle and after cleaning its supplies.

Clean your turtle tank and supplies while you are outside the house, if possible. If you clean indoors, use a laundry sink or a tub that is only used for your turtle. Don’t clean supplies in the kitchen or other areas where you eat or prepare food.

Don’t kiss or snuggle your turtle. This can spread germs to your mouth and make you sick.

If you want to rehome your turtle, don’t toss it or release it into the wild! Call your local pet store or reptile rescue.

If you are thinking of getting a pet turtle, consider these tips.

Do not buy small turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.

A federal law bans the sale of these turtles as pets. However, they are sometimes sold illegally at stores, flea markets, gift shops, and roadside stands

Get your pet turtle from a reputable pet store or pet rescue.

Reputable stores do not sell small turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.

Turtles can be great pets, but they aren’t right for every family.

Consider picking a different pet if there is someone in your household who is at higher risk of getting severely sick from germs like Salmonella.

• Kids under 5 years old
• Adults 65 and older
• People with weakened immune systems

Salmonella spreads to people through contaminated food (eggs and meat) or contact with stool of certain animals, including wildlife. In the wild, people usually become sick with Salmonella through direct contact with an infected animal’s stool or by accidentally drinking contaminated water. While it usually does not make the animals sick, Salmonella can cause serious illness when it is passed to people.

People exposed to Salmonella might have diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal cramps. Infants, elderly persons, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.

Prevent salmonellosis by avoiding stool of wild animals, thoroughly cooking game meat, and practicing healthy habits, including hand washing.