Dozens of people were affected by the two outbreaks, according to the CDC.
Two salmonella outbreaks affecting dozens of people in multiple states have been linked to pet hedgehogs and dwarf dragons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week.
CDC Sept. By 22 22 states are investigating outbreaks of strained Salmonella typhimurium in contact with 32 infected pet hedgehogs.
Five people have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The CDC said 16 of the 23 sick people reported contact with the hedgehog before they became ill.
The CDC is also investigating the outbreak of the strained Salmonella munster, which has found 13 infections in eight states in contact with domesticated dragons.
Seven people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The CDC said five of those sick were under the age of five, while 10 out of 13 reported contact with a dragon before it became ill.
The CDC did not identify all the states that have erupted, though said samples from a New York hedgehog contained stress that was making people sick.
The CDC said the affected people had reported the purchase of dragonflies and hedgehogs from various suppliers and no common source for pets had been identified.
The CDC recommends that you always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling any pet or anything in your environment. It is also recommended not to kiss or keep your pet in the place where you eat, store or prepare.
Dragons with dragons and hedgehogs are some of the most popular pets sold at NJ Exotic Pets in Lodi, New Jersey. Skyline Lyons, a sales associate, told ABC News that it was possible for people to become infected with Salmonella after the two came in contact while handling animal feces. It may be more common in hedgehogs, which run on wheels for several hours a day and defecate often when using them and which are more susceptible to handling humans.
“The more you interact with them, the more friends they become,” said Lyons, who owns hedgehogs and currently owns two-legged dragons. “It’s about making that bond, but at the same time you have to protect yourself.”
The store recommends washing your hands every morning after handling pets and cleaning hedgehog wheels.
Common symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps that can be exposed after six hours to six days. The illness can last up to a week. Most people do not need treatment, however, children under the age of 5, people 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have serious cases.
The CDC has investigated two salmonella outbreaks involving hedgehogs in recent years. In 2012, 26 people from 12 states were infected with Salmonella typhimuria, resulting in eight hospitalizations and one death. In 2019, 54 people in 23 states were infected with stress. Eight people were hospitalized, and no one was reported dead.
Last year, salmonella outbreaks in 14 states were linked to pet turtles. There were 26 reports reported, resulting in eight hospitalizations and no deaths.
.
