Within three years, more and more reptiles were found to be carriers, particularly turtles. At that time an estimated 4 percent of all families had a pet turtle, and these pets attributed to 14 percent of all cases. By 1975, the Food and Drug Administration prohibited the sale of turtles whose shells measured less than four inches, resulting in an estimated drop of 100,000 salmonella cases each year. Salmonella is transmitted in various ways from reptile to human. Studies suggest kids seem to catch it most from handling the reptile, or from someone else who has handled an infected pet.
Adults tend to catch salmonella after being bitten or scratched by an infected specimen.
Despite the risk of catching salmonella from an infected herp, there's no need for alarm. And there's no need to send your herps packing or to drop your collection and take up stamps as a hobby. Rather, you can take precautions to keep you, your pet, and your family happy. Take your pet to a reptile vet and have it tested for all sorts of internal nasties, including salmonella. The tests might cost you a few bucks, but its better that you and your herp are protected from future illness.