Hold onto your shells, folks, because there’s a turtle-sized commotion happening! The CDC is on a roll, kindly asking everyone to back off from smooching and cuddling turtles. Believe it or not, there’s a salmonella party going on in 11 states, and the VIP guests are pet turtles. These shelled darlings might look innocent, but they’re secret carriers of salmonella in their droppings. Yep, you heard that right.
Picture this: you’re having a cozy moment with your turtle pal, and next thing you know, you’re unintentionally playing host to some seriously uninvited guests—salmonella bacteria. It can hop from shell to hand to lips. Talk about a party crasher!
At least 26 folks have fallen victim to this turtle-shell game, with nine needing a vacation at the turtle hospital. No turtle fatalities reported yet, though. But wait, there’s more to this wacky story.
Small turtles and baby turtles are the culprits here. In fact, they caused such a stir that back in ’75, the government laid down the law: no selling turtles with shells shorter than four inches. Size does matter, it seems!
Now, the CDC is throwing shade at shady pet stores, saying any legit joint won’t deal in these pocket-sized troublemakers. But don’t chuckle just yet, because these mini-turtles are making a comeback online and even at flea markets in the United States.
In conclusion, remember this golden rule when it comes to turtles, hands off, lips off, and maybe just stick to high-fives.
