October 1, 2020 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hasannounced that the agency is investigating a multistate occurrence of humanSalmonella Muenster infections linked to contact with bearded dragons.

Thirteen cases of human Salmonella Muenster infections have been reported ineight states between February 23 and August 22, 2020. In interviews, 10 out of13 people reported they were recently in contact with bearded dragons beforebecoming sick. The ages of those infected range from less than one year to 72years, with a median age of 15 years. Five of the cases are children under theage of five. There have been no deaths; seven people have been hospitalized.The bearded dragons were purchased from pet stores in multiple states. Asingle, common supplier of the bearded dragons has not been identified.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominalcramps between six hours and six days after infection. The illness usuallylasts four to seven days, and most individuals recover without treatment.Children under the age of five, senior citizens and individuals with weakenedimmune systems have a greater risk of infection and complications.

Animals become infected with Salmonella through their environment, by eatingcontaminated food, or from their mothers before they are born or hatched.Regardless of where they are purchased, many animals can carry Salmonella andstill appear healthy and clean. Animals with Salmonella shed the bacteria intheir stool which can contaminate their body parts or items in their habitat,such as bedding, food, or water. People can be infected if they do not washtheir hands after contact with animals carrying Salmonella or theirenvironment.

The CDC and expert sources recommend these precautions to protect yourself andothers from contact with Salmonella bacteria that reptiles, including beardeddragons, may carry:

• Supervise children’s interactions with the animal, including post-encounter hand-washing.
• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with water and soap right after touching, feeding, or caring for a bearded dragon or cleaning its habitat .
• Do not let the animal into areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored.
• Do not snuggle or kiss the animal, or touch your mouth, eat or drink around them.
• To prevent cross-contamination, clean items you use to care for your bearded dragon outside the house, if possible. Items you use to care for it may include tanks, food and water containers, and toys. If you clean these items indoors, do not clean them in the kitchen or other areas where food is eaten or prepared. Use a laundry sink or bathtub, and thoroughly clean and disinfect the area immediately.
• Pick the right pet for your family. Bearded dragons and other reptiles are not recommended for children under 5, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems because they are more likely to get serious illness from germs that reptiles can carry.

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council reminds consumers that they shouldcheck their state, local, and property laws before buying any reptile, to makesure it is legal to own one in their community. Consumers should only purchasepets from reputable pet stores or breeders. Pet retailers are encouraged toprovide information on disease risk and prevention measures to consumerspurchasing pets, and to employees handling these companion animals.

Resources:

• CDC Investigation Notice: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/muenster-10-20/index.html
• CDC information on diseases and prevention for reptile owners: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/reptiles.html
• CDC Stay Healthy Around Pet Reptiles and Amphibians poster: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/safety-around-reptiles-H.pdf
• CDC information on safe handling of reptiles and amphibians: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/reptiles/safe-handling.html
• CDC information on Salmonella: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/
• PIJAC flyer containing information on Salmonella for retailers: https://pijac.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/FLYERSalmonellosis071117.pdf
• PIJAC Healthy Herp Handling poster: https://pijac.org/HealthyHerpHandling
• PIJAC health alerts on zoonotic diseases: https://pijac.org/animal-welfare-and-programs/zoonotic-disease-prevention/healthalerts
• PIJAC website updates on this outbreak and other zoonotic issues: http://www.pijac.org

CDC information on outbreaks of zoonotic diseases spread between animals andhumans in the United States: https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/outbreaks.html

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