Key points
Public health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to contact with pet turtles. Half of the sick people are children younger than 5 years old. Although any turtle can carry Salmonella germs that can spread to you and make you sick, turtles with shells less than 4 inches long are a known source of illness. Always take steps to stay healthy around pet turtles.
Where people got sick
This map shows where the 20 people in this Salmonella outbreak lived.
This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.