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Some pets can be good for human spirit, bad for human health

Alisa Ulferts | Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Your six-year-old wanted a pony. You wanted a plant. The two of you compromised on a cute, easy-to-care for frog. Now, public health officials are warning you about recent poisonings caused by pet frogs and turtles, natural carriers of the salmonella bacteria. Is it time to invent a story about Freddy Frog going to live with Grandma on the farm? Health care officials say that can depend on the size of the reptile - and the child.

Last week, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced an increase in salmonella cases caused by contact with pet frogs, especially African dwarf frogs, which can carry salmonella on their skin and harbor it in their cages. Turtles also can carry the potentially deadly bacteria on their shell, and it is impossible to tell by looking at a frog or turtle if it has salmonella. Because they are more likely to find their way into young children's mouths, turtles with shells smaller than 4 inches in length cannot be purchased legally in the United States.

Public health officials say 30 U.S. states have reported increases in pet-linked salmonella among young children since April of last year. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and can lead to severe illness and even death in very young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. An estimated 70,000 people get salmonella from contact with reptiles in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

So what should you do? Health care officials with the CDC offer these tips for nervous parents of pet reptile owners:

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after handling reptiles or their cages. Do not touch your face, other people or any surface until hands are washed.

Do not allow turtles to roam freely about a home or living area, and especially do not allow them in food preparation areas.

Kitchen sinks should not be used to bathe pet frogs or turtles or to wash their dishes, cages, or aquariums. If bathtubs are used for these purposes, they should be cleaned thoroughly and disinfected with bleach.

Do not have a pet frog or turtle in any household that includes children under five, the elderly, or people who have lowered natural resistance to disease due to pregnancy, cancer, chemotherapy, organ transplants, diabetes, liver problems or other diseases.