Salmonella Outbreak In Bearded Dragons Sickens PA, NJ Residents: Reports

An outbreak of salmonella linked to pet reptiles has reached Pennsylvania and New Jersey, health officials have announced.

Bearded dragons have been linked to a salmonella outbreak, and two PA residents have gotten sick, the CDC says.
Photo Credit: *Pixabay/Blende12*

Mac Bullock

10/20/2022 2:45 p.m.

Twenty-three residents of 15 states have fallen ill as a result, including two in Pennsylvania and one in New Jersey, according to CBS News.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that bearded dragons kept as pets can spread salmonella, as they carry the bacteria in their droppings. The germs can be found anywhere in a bearded dragon's immediate environment, even when it looks clean, the agency said.

Eight people have been hospitalized, and almost half of those who got sick were infants, the outlet added.

The CDC recommends that bearded dragon owners wash their hands frequently, keep food and drink away from their pets, and to regularly clean pet supplies and habitats.

Read the CDC's full investigation notice for more.

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