Pet frogs associated with Salmonella outbreak: Tips for protecting your family and children

Pet frogs have been implicated as a cause of a recent Salmonella outbreak.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued an announcement yesterday warning that "a multistate outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Typhimurium infections" has been traced to "contact with water frogs including African Dwarf Frogs."

Pet frogs and Salmonella

Water frogs are frequently kept as pets and often are housed in aquariums, fish tanks or terrariums. It comes as no surprise to CDC officials that pet frogs are playing a role in this Salmonella outbreak. Amphibians (such as frogs) and reptiles (such as turtles) have long been recognized as sources of human infections with Salmonella.

Salmonellosis in people

The most common signs associated with Salmonella infections in people are diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Children less than 5 years of age are at increased risk of developing severe infections, as are the elderly and other people who are immunocompromised.

The first case in the recent outbreak of human salmonellosis was reported on June 24, 2009. To date, 48 infected individuals from 25 different states have been identified, according to the CDC. Over 75% of the infections reported occurred in children less than 10 years of age.

Tips for protecting children and other family members

Some simple precautions can help you protect your children and other family members from the risk of infection with Salmonella due to contact with pet frogs and other amphibians and reptiles.

• Amphibians and reptiles should not be kept in homes with children less than 5 years of age or homes with immunocompromised individuals.
• Persons at increased risk for salmonellosis (young children, elderly, immunocompromised people) should avoid contact with amphibians and reptiles or items which come into contact with amphibians and reptiles.
• Habitats housing amphibians and reptiles should not be kept in children's bedrooms or in kitchen or dining rooms. Amphibians and reptiles should not roam freely in the home and, in particular, should be denied access to the kitchen or any other food preparation area.
• Habitats where amphibians and reptiles are housed should be cleaned outside using disposable gloves. Animals should not be bathed in kitchen sinks or other sinks where food preparation occurs or drinking water is obtained. Water from habitats should not be disposed of in these areas either. If using a bathtub to clean a habitat, the tub should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with bleach afterward.
• Children less than 5 years of age should not be allowed to clean amphibian and/or reptile habitats or bathe these animals.
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling amphibians or reptiles, after cleaning habitats housing these animals or after handling anything which has contacted these animals. Proper sanitation and hygiene is the best defense against contagious disease.
• Contact your physician immediately if you or anyone in your family exhibits symptoms of salmonellosis. Symptoms are diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

For more information: CDC-Outbreak of Salmonella related to water frogs

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