Deadly salmonella outbreak in US children linked to droppings from pet lizards, CDC warns READ MORE: Cucumbers contaminated with salmonella sicken more than 150 By Cassidy Morrison Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 10:36 EDT, 14 June 2024 | Updated: 11:30 EDT, 14 June 2024 e-mail View comments The CDC has issued an urgent warning about a multistate outbreak of potentially deadly salmonella poisoning linked to pet lizards. Nine of the 15 patients are under five years old, and four people have been hospitalized.
No deaths have yet been reported. The lizards are bearded dragons, which carry salmonella bacteria in their droppings, contaminating their living environment. When a person touches the lizard or its cage and then touches their mouths or food they eat, they risk contracting the bacteria, leading to diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
While lizards are kept commonly as pets, health officials argue young children, seniors, and people with weak immune systems should stay away. Bearded dragons are common pets, but health officials do not recommend it The CDC recommends washing hands regularly after handling the lizard, making sure young children under five avoid contact, and having a dedicated enclosure that keeps them from roaming freely around the house. Bearded dragons have been affectionately dubbed the golden retrievers of the lizard world.
A quick search on TikTok will return hundreds of videos garnering tens of thousands of views where people shar.