A salmonella outbreak has been linked to baby turtles, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday. So far, 15 people have been sickened in 11 states, and five have required hospitalization.
“Many people in this outbreak reported purchasing turtles with shells less than 4 inches long from online stores before becoming ill,” the CDC said. He noted that three of the people who were sick bought turtles from the website myturtlestore.com.
The CDC notes that it’s illegal to sell turtles this small, but that doesn’t always stop websites and certain physical locations, such as flea markets and roadside stands.
People can get salmonella by touching a turtle or something in its environment, and then touching their mouth or handling food without washing their hands first, the CDC said.
The CDC also notes that pet turtles of any size can carry salmonella, even if they appear healthy and clean.
To avoid getting sick, the CDC recommends washing your hands after handling and feeding pet turtles, and avoiding kissing or cuddling them. The CDC also advises people not to eat around pet turtles.
The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have severe symptoms, which include fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days without improvement, and excessive vomiting.