Deadly salmonella outbreak in US children linked to droppings from pet lizards, CDC warns

The CDC has issued a warning about a multistate outbreak of deadly salmonella poisoning linked to lizards. 

Nine of the patients are under five years old, and are believed to have come into contact with their pet bearded dragons. Four people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

The lizards carry salmonella germs in their droppings, contaminating their living environment. 

While lizards are kept commonly as pets, health officials argue young children, seniors, and people with weak immune systems should stay away. 

When a person touches the bearded dragon or anything in its cage and then touches their mouths or food they eat, they run the risk of fever, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. 

The CDC recommends washing hands regularly after handling the lizard, making sure young children under five avoid contact, and having a dedicated enclosure that keeps them from roaming freely around the house.  

Bearded dragons have been affectionately dubbed the golden retrievers of the lizard world. 

A quick search on TikTok will return hundreds of videos garnering tens of thousands of views where people share cute videos that show off the lizards' goofy personalities. 

Many of them feature the scaly friends in costumes and adorable outfits, lounging on a pool float, and tucking in to a bowl of blueberries. 

The lizards are typically sold as pets after being bred in captivity. They are believed to be the most popular lizards and increasingly common as pets, thanks in part to their delightful social media presence. 

Dr Jose Valdez, an ecology and biodiversity expert, reported: 'Trends within the reptile pet trade have also drastically shifted in recent decades, with an increase in domestic demand, a decrease in foreign supply, and overall less reliance on imported and wild-caught reptiles.

'This is highlighted by the U.S., which is both the largest importer and exporter of reptiles in the world and exemplifies the quick growth and success in captive-breeding, with over 10,000 hobbyists actively breeding reptiles.'

Salmonella lives in the lizard's digestive tract. It is shed in their feces and often lands on their skin, potentially contaminating any area it roams. Petting it and then handling food is risky.