“Don’t kiss the bearded dragon“. It may seem like a passage from a fairy tale about princesses and fantastic animals. In reality it is one of the serious recommendations that the US CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was forced to reiterate in a warning after recorded 15 cases of salmonella illnesses, linked precisely to this docile and apparently harmless saurian, which is characterized by its beard of dark and pointed scales under the chin. The CDC, in the investigation notice published on the epidemic of Salmonella infections which involved several US states, in total 9, take stock of the numbers: of the 15 diseases reported to the agency 60% involved children under 5 years old, experts warn. This is because, apparently not infrequently, bearded dragons are chosen as pets. Four people were hospitalized due to the infection, while no deaths were reported.
Given the age of the patients, the CDC reiterated when It is not recommended to have this lizard in the house. In fact, bearded dragons “are not recommended as pets for children under 5 and people aged 65 and over, or for those with weakened immune systems,” it says. All this because those who fall into the aforementioned categories are “more likely to contract a serious disease caused by germs carried by reptiles”. Bearded dragons can carry salmonellathrough excrement, “even if they look healthy and clean“. And you can get sick, warn the CDC, “by touching your bearded dragon or anything in its environment and then putting your hands to your mouth or handling the food, thus risking ingesting the germs”. The fundamental steps to stay safe health with your pet saurian are: “wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching him or the area where he lives, or feeding him”. “Hand hygiene is even more important before holding him in your arms”. or feed a newborn or your child under 5 years of age. And make sure that those under 5 avoid contact” with the reptile.
Another recommendation is to “Do not pet your bearded dragon and do not eat or drink around him“. “And prepare a dedicated enclosure, without allowing bearded dragons to roam in the same spaces where a newborn or older children play or crawl”, write the CDC. An off limits area must be “the kitchen and the spaces in where food is eaten, stored or prepared.” Businesses that handle these animals are also required to abide by rules, such as instructing customers on how to behave. Consider providing them with a safety leaflet.
What are the symptoms of salmonella disease? Most infected people develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacterium. The discomfort usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most recover without treatment. But in some cases the disease can become more serious and require hospitalization. Children under 5 and adults over 65, as well as immunosuppressed people, are more likely to contract these more severe forms.
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