Reptiles, such as turtles, lizards and snakes, can be fascinating. But if you're considering one for a pet, there's an important fact you should know—they can make you sick.
The problem
Reptiles are popular pets in the United States. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of households own at least one. But these animals can carry diseases, even if they don't seem sick in any way. The most important of these diseases is salmonellosis. It's caused by the bacterium Salmonella, and many people in the U.S. get it from reptiles every year, according to CDC.
Salmonellosis causes vomiting, severe diarrhea that may be bloody, and fever. In serious cases, it may lead to hospitalization or death.
Anyone can get the illness. But people who are especially vulnerable include children younger than 5 years; elderly people; and those with lowered resistance to disease because of health concerns, such as cancer treatments, organ transplants, diabetes or liver problems.
What you can do
Salmonella bacteria are a normal part of a reptile's intestinal system, so washing your pet won't help you avoid infection. The bacteria is in a reptile's feces and can spread to anything the animal touches. And don't rely on having the reptile tested, because it may expel Salmonella one day and not the next.
But you can help prevent illness by taking these precautions suggested by CDC and other medical experts:
- Wash your hands in hot soapy water immediately after touching a reptile or any objects it may have touched.
- If you have a weakened immune system, avoid contact with reptiles.
- Don't keep a reptile in the same house as children younger than age 5 or anyone with a weakened immune system.
- Don't allow reptile pets to roam freely through the house, especially in areas where food is prepared or eaten.
Reviewed 3/7/2024