Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Bearded Dragons In 9 States: CDC

Pet bearded dragons are linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened around 15 people in nine states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday.

"Epidemiologic and laboratory data showed that contact with pet bearded dragons made people sick in this outbreak," the CDC said.

According to the report, four people in New York reported Salmonella linked to the lizards. In addition, the report said bearded dragon-linked Salmonella has sicked three people in Ohio, two people in California, one in Texas, one in Oklahoma, one in Iowa, one in Tennessee, one in Georgia and one in North Carolina.

The CDC said that after interviewing 12 people about their sickness, seven, or 58 percent, reported contact with a bearded dragon before getting sick.

"Most people had contact at home while caring for bearded dragons such as touching the animals or their enclosures, feeding them, and putting them on their laps, heads, or shoulders. At least one child did not touch the bearded dragons and might have been exposed through indirect contact from a reptile in the household. For example, after a reptile was allowed to roam freely in the home," the CDC said.

Those sick with bearded-dragon-related Salmonella first reported being sick on January 8, and continued through May 16, the CDC said.

"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," the CDC said.

According to the report, the affected bearded dragon owners purchased their pets at various retail locations. An analysis of bacteria from 13 people’s samples did not predict resistance to any antibiotics, although "most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics," the CDC said.

Salmonella symptoms include fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps and usually start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. Most people recover within a week without medical treatment, according to the CDC.

Here's some tips to stay healthy around bearded dragons from the CDC:

• Wash your hands after handling bearded dragons, their food, or items in their environment.
• Don’t kiss or snuggle bearded dragons.
• Keep bearded dragons out of the kitchen or anywhere that food is prepared, stored, served, or eaten and away from areas where young children play.
• Keep its supplies and habitat clean.
• Limit children’s contact with bearded dragons.