CDC warns of Salmonella outbreak caused by bearded dragon contact in 25 states :: WRAL.com

If you have been around reptilian pets recently, you may want to watch for symptoms of a Salmonella infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning after an outbreak of Salmonella in 25 states has been linked to bearded dragons that are kept as pets. So far, 44 people have fallen ill, 15 of whom have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The CDC says bearded dragons can carry Salmonella germs in their feces even if they look healthy and clean. Germs can then easily spread to their body and anything in the area where they live and roam, so you can get sick from touching a bearded dragon or anything in its environment.

To prevent a salmonella infection, you should wash your hands with soap and water after touching or feeding a bearded dragon or the area where it lives. You should also not kiss or cuddle a bearded dragon, or eat or drink around it, as this can spread Salmonella germs in your mouth.

While this might sound odd if you’re unfamiliar with bearded dragons, this isn’t actually the first time the CDC has issued a warning after an outbreak of Salmonella in pets. There was also an outbreak in November 2020 that sickened 18 people in 11 states. All 11 were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, usually six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, but children under 5, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems can suffer from more serious illnesses.

It is also currently only one of the few bacterial outbreaks affecting multiple states.

Bag salad sold in 37 states has been recalled due to a Listeria risk, while more than 28,000 pounds of ground beef were recently recalled for E. coli contamination.

You can find more information about the three bacteria by visiting the CDC website.

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