NewSalmonella outbreak linked to pet veiled chameleons; all sick people are children 2 years old or younger

A CDC investigation notice regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections has been posted: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pet Veiled Chameleons | Salmonella Infection | CDC

Key Points:

• Five children across four states have gotten sick from the same strain of Salmonella that has now been linked to pet veiled chameleons.
• All sick children are two years old or younger.
• Reptiles are not recommended as pets for children under five as they are more likely to get a serious illness from germs that reptiles can carry.
• Veiled chameleons and other reptiles can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to their bodies and anything in the area where they live and roam.
• You can get sick from touching your pet veiled chameleon or anything in its environment and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella germs.

What You Should Do:

• Always take these steps to stay healthy around your pet chameleon:
• Wash your hands after handling your pet or the area where it lives, and before holding or feeding a child.
• Play safely and don't eat or drink around your chameleon.
• Keep things clean. Clean your chameleon supplies outside the house, if possible. If you must clean the supplies indoors, don't clean them in the kitchen or other areas where you eat or prepare food.
• If you are thinking of getting a pet chameleon:
• Chameleons and other reptiles are not recommended for children under 5, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems. These people are more likely to get a serious illness from germs that reptiles can carry.
• If you decide your chameleon is not the right fit for your family, never release a pet chameleon outside. Call a pet rescue, animal shelter, or pet store about rehoming options.

What Pet Businesses Should Do:

• Educate customers about how to stay healthy around chameleons.
• Consider giving a pet safety handout to customers who are buying a chameleon.
• This graphic can be used as a social media post or a sticker and illustrates handwashing when handling pet reptiles, including chameleons.
• Learn more about how to protect your customers and employees from Salmonella infection and other diseases shared between animals and humans.

About Salmonella:

• Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
• The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
• In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized.
• Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state's health department.

If you are a member of the media, please fill out this Request for Comment form to submit your media inquiry to CDC.