Pet Turtles Blamed for Outbreak of Salmonella; 23 Cases Are Reported

County health officials are warning about an outbreak of salmonella that is originating from reptiles, with 23 cases reported in Ventura County just this past month.

Almost all of the cases appear to stem from two pet turtles, according to Marilyn Billimek, a nurse with Ventura County Public Health.

In one case, a pet turtle owned by a restaurant worker may have caused about 21 people to catch salmonella in Oxnard. The food handler kept a turtle at home, and county authorities believe that it has the disease. The downtown fast-food restaurant was closed Friday and will remain closed until authorities are sure that the disease has been eradicated from the premises, Billimek said. She refused to disclose the name of the restaurant.

The other two cases stem from a pet turtle owned by a Ventura family, Billimek said.

Salmonella is a harmful bacteria carried by many animals--including a number of reptiles--that can cause mild to very severe illness in humans. Symptoms include nausea, fever, abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and severe dehydration. Salmonella can fester for up to six days before a victim feels the first symptoms.

“[Victims] get really sick really fast,” Billimek said. “They may be on the golf course or walking in the mall when, all of a sudden, they can’t even make it back to the car.”

There were 65 cases of salmonella in Ventura County in 1995, and so far this year, about 50 cases have been reported, Billimek said.

The spread of salmonella is often associated with poultry and unrefrigerated foods.

“Mayonnaise is a big culprit,” Billimek said. “Summer salads that aren’t chilled right can be a big problem.”

Poor kitchen hygiene, such as not washing a cutting board after placing raw chicken on it, is another red flag, Billimek said.

Reptiles can spread the disease even though they may not appear ill. Health officials warn people to wash their hands after handling reptiles.

“If a turtle crawls across a table or floor, [the surface] should be washed too, because it could be contaminated too,” Billimek said.

Children are particularly susceptible to salmonella and can suffer further complications from the disease, such as meningitis, Billimek said.

If any residents think that they may have gotten salmonella from a restaurant, they should call the Ventura County Environmental Health Department for an inspection. The department’s number is 654-2813.

For information about salmonella in general, call a doctor, or Ventura County Public Health at 652-5918.