Four of eight multistate outbreaks of Salmonella linked to small turtles remain under active investigation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:

• a total of 391 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 40 states and the District of Columbia;

• 29% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported;

• 71% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger, and 33% of ill persons are children 1 year of age or younger;

• 45% of ill persons are of Hispanic ethnicity. Information about the association between reptiles and Salmonella is available in Spanish;

• results of the epidemiologic and environmental investigations indicate exposure to turtles or their environments (e.g., water from a turtle habitat) is the cause of these outbreaks;

• 70% of ill persons reported exposure to turtles prior to their illness;

• 89% of ill persons with turtle exposure specifically reported exposure to small turtles (shell length less than 4 inches);

• 30% of ill persons with small turtles reported purchasing the turtles from street vendors; and,

• 13% reported purchasing small turtles from pet stores.

The Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale and distribution of turtles with a shell length of less than 4 inches in size as pets since 1975.

Full details are available at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/small-turtles-03-12/index.html.