We were eating dinner on the balcony – as you do in Brisbane – and our neighbor was showing his grandchild the geckos living in the utility box.

There was no contact, but I still see a Salmonella factory.

According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control, as of May 13, 2015, a total of 20 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Muenchen have been reported from 16 states since January 1, 2014.

Three (15%) of these ill persons have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings have linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with pet crested geckos purchased from multiple pet stores in different states.

Ten (91%) of 11 ill persons interviewed reported contact with a crested gecko in the week before their illness began.

CDC’S National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory conducted antibiotic resistance testing on Salmonella Muenchen isolates collected from two ill people infected with the outbreak strain.

Both isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested on the NARMS panel.

Antibiotic resistance testing on additional isolates collected from ill people infected with the outbreak strain is ongoing.