Baby contracts Salmonella from pet reptiles
Image - Jeremiah Blatz
Reptile owners have been reminded to observe thorough hygiene precautions after a five-month-old baby in Sutton was urgently hospitalised after contracting Salmonella pomona, a rare form of Salmonella linked to wild and domestic reptiles, from a family pet.
Environmental Health Officers of Sutton Council, investigating conditions in the family home after tests performed by St. George's Hospital in Tooting suggested a link to reptiles, concluded that the family's pet tortoises and pet Bearded Dragon were the likely source of the infection. The baby went on to make a complete recovery.
Commenting on the incident, local Councillor Simon Wales (Executive Member for the Communities, Transport and Voluntary Sector) reminded the public that "Exotic reptiles are becoming increasingly popular pets but many owners are unaware of the health risks associated with lizards, snakes and tortoises. Children under the age of five are particularly at risk, especially because you hold a snake or lizard in the same way that you would hold a baby, so there’s plenty of chance for your clothing and hands to become contaminated. There are some basic hygiene precautions that go a long way to help cut the risk of infection. These include thoroughly washing your hands after handling them and before preparing food, not allowing reptiles to roam freely around the house and certainly keeping them out of the kitchen."
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
