EXHIBIT D

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Protecting and Promoting Your Health

Pet Turtles: Cute But Commonly 

Contaminated with Salmonella

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Turtles commonly carry the Salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces. Geckos can also 

infect people with Salmonella.

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On this page:

• Who Is at Risk of Salmonella Infection

• Infection From Turtles and Geckos

• Advice for Consumers

The little glassy-eyed creatures may look cute and harmless, but small turtles can make people 

very ill. Turtles commonly carry Salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces.

People can get infected with Salmonella by coming in contact with:

• Turtles or other reptiles (lizards, snakes);

• Amphibians (frogs, salamanders, newts); and

• The habitats of reptiles or amphibians, such as cages, tanks and aquariums.

Salmonella can cause a serious or even life-threatening infection in people, even though the 

bacteria do not make reptiles or amphibians sick. One example: the 2007 death of a 4-week-old 

baby in Florida linked to Salmonella from a small turtle. The DNA of the Salmonella from the turtle 

matched that from the infant.

People infected with Salmonella may have diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and 

headache. Symptoms usually appear six to 72 hours after contact with the bacteria and last about 

two to seven days. Most people recover without treatment; but some can become so sick that they 

need to be treated in a hospital.

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Who Is at Risk of Salmonella Infection

Anyone can get Salmonella infection. But the risk is highest in infants; young children; elderly 

people; and people with lowered natural resistance to infection because of pregnancy, cancer, 

HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and other diseases.

“All reptiles and amphibians have the potential to be carriers of Salmonella,” says Vic Boddie II, 

Ph.D., a consumer safety officer in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary 

Medicine. “And if children come in contact with small turtles, they run the risk of becoming very ill.”

“Even if a small turtle doesn’t look sick, it may still carry Salmonella that could make young children 

sick. And unfortunately, children will unknowingly infect themselves,” Boddie says. “Kids have the 

tendency to put the small turtles in their mouths or play in the turtle habitat and then put their 

fingers in their mouths. Also, reptile habitats are sometimes cleaned in the kitchen sink, which 

could cross-contaminate food and eating utensils, thus posing a serious risk to both kids and the 

elderly.”

Surfaces such as countertops, tabletops, bare floors, and carpeting can also become 

contaminated with the bacteria if the turtle is allowed to roam on them. The bacteria may survive 

for a long time on those surfaces. Proper handling and hygiene practices are extremely important 

in preventing the spread of the bacteria and keeping you and your family healthy.

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Infection From Turtles and Geckos

From Jan. 22, 2015, to Sept. 8, 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

received reports of 51 Salmonella-related illnesses in 16 states—most of which were in children 

age 5 or younger. Although there were no deaths associated with this outbreak, 15 people were 

hospitalized.

The investigation showed that shortly before most of the people became ill, they were exposed to a 

turtle by touching, feeding, cleaning the habitat, or changing the water in the tank. More 

specifically, 80% of people who became sick reported buying and handling small turtles from a 

street vendor or receiving the turtle as a gift.

Geckos also can be the source of a Salmonella outbreak. Between Jan. 1, 2014, and June 16, 

2015, CDC received reports of 22 people in 17 states who were infected with Salmonella

associated with geckos. Geckos commonly live in aquariums or fish tanks, and could be carrying 

Salmonella but appear healthy and show no signs of illness.

As with turtles, these outbreaks generally affected children, and some infected individuals were 

hospitalized. It is extremely important that you and your family members wash your hands 

thoroughly with soap and water right after handling geckos or their habitats.

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Advice for Consumers

• Don’t buy small turtles or other reptiles or amphibians for pets or as gifts.

• If your family is expecting a child, remove any reptile or amphibian from the home before the 

infant arrives.

• Keep reptiles and amphibians out of homes with children younger than 5, the elderly, or people 

with weakened immune systems.

• Do not allow reptiles or amphibians to roam freely through the house, especially in food 

preparation areas.

• Do not clean aquariums or other supplies in the kitchen sink. Use bleach to disinfect a tub or 

other place where reptile or amphibian habitats are cleaned.

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching any reptile or 

amphibian, its housing, or anything (for example, food) that comes in contact with the animal or 

its housing.

• Be aware that Salmonella infection can be caused by contact with reptiles or amphibians in 

petting zoos, parks, child-care facilities, or other locations.

• Watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection, such as diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, 

fever, and headache. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of those symptoms.

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Updated: April 8, 2016

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For More Information

• FDA Acts to Reduce Risk of Salmonella Infections

(/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048081.htm) [ARCHIVED]

• Pet Turtles: A Source of Germs (brochure) (PDF - 225KB)

(/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/UCM117790.pdf)

• Reptiles and Salmonella (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ReptilesSalmonella/)

• MMWR Weekly: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Associated with Exposure to 

Turtles—United States, 2007-2008 (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5703a3.htm)

• MMWR Weekly: Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated 

with Aquatic Frogs—United States, 2009

(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5851a1.htm)

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