Title: 100,000 Children At Risk From Turtles
Tags: turtles, salmonellosis, salmonella, turtles illegal, how to handle turtles,
Blog Entry: Sale of Turtles Banned In USA Actually, the sale of turtles under 4 inches has been banned since 1975 in the USA. The ban brought into effect by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in response to the high risk of children catching salmonellosis from their pet. They estimate as many as 100,000 children a year have been spared since the ban. Salmonella carrying turtles do not necessarily appear sick and are not always "contageous." A point to note, because a "salmonella free" turtle may in fact just not have been shedding at the time it was tested. Turtles are not the only culprits. Reptiles and amphibians of all kinds contribute to an estimated 74,000 cases of salmonellosis annually in the USA. The disease is especially dangerous to children under 5, pregnant women, the elderly, and other people with low immunity. Severe cases can lead to death. P reventing turtle-associated salmonellosis If you decide to have a turtle (or other reptile or amphibian) you should always keep them away from food and food preparation areas. You should always pay particular attention to keeping them and their housing areas clean. Always wash your hands after handling them. Keep them away from people at high risk to salmonella. For further information on reccomended handling of turtles visit the CDC website. Buy at AllPosters.com
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