In the present day the Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) stated a minimum of 15 folks in 9 states have been sickened with Salmonella linked to pet bearded dragons. 4 folks have required hospitalization, however no deaths have been reported.
New York has reported 4 circumstances, Ohio and California have every reported three circumstances, and Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia have every reported a single case.
“The true variety of sick folks in an outbreak is probably going a lot larger than the quantity reported, and the outbreak is probably not restricted to the states with identified diseases,” the CDC stated. The outbreak pressure is Salmonella Cotham.
9 sufferers are preschoolers
Diseases began on dates starting from January 8, 2024, to Could 16, 2024. Of the 12 folks interviewed, 7 (58%) reported contact with a bearded dragon earlier than getting sick. At the least one youngster didn’t report contact, suggesting she or he was doubtless uncovered not directly at residence.
“60% of sick persons are youngsters beneath 5 years outdated,” the CDC stated in an e mail to reporters. “Bearded dragons aren’t really helpful as pets for kids youthful than 5, adults aged 65 or older, and other people with weakened immune techniques as a result of these persons are extra prone to get a critical sickness from germs that reptiles carry.”
“Bearded dragons aren’t really helpful as pets for kids youthful than 5, adults aged 65 or older, and other people with weakened immune system
The CDC warned that pet dragons can shed Salmonella by means of feces even when showing wholesome. Contact between pet dragons and kids 5 and beneath must be averted if potential due to the chance of sickness.