Salmonella from pet turtles sickens 103

Contact with small pet turtles was to blame for 103 Salmonella infections that occurred in 33 states between May and December 2007, according to federal health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.

Salmonella infections can be severe, leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, death, the CDC notes in the current issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Turtles and other reptiles are well-known reservoirs for Salmonella and while the sale and distribution of small turtles — measuring less than 4 inches — was officially outlawed in the U.S. in 1975, cases of turtle-associated Salmonella infection continue to occur. "Small turtles remain available to the public from various sources, including pet shops, flea markets, street vendors, and Internet web sites," the CDC notes.