Investigation Details

January 9, 2020

CDC and public health officials in several states investigated a multistate outbreak of human Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to contact with pet turtles.

Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that were part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill people by using a standardized laboratory and data analysis method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). CDC PulseNet manages a national database of these sequences that are used to identify possible outbreaks. WGS gives investigators detailed information about the bacteria causing illness. In this investigation, WGS showed that bacteria isolated from ill people were closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak were more likely to share a common source of infection.

A total of 26 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg were reported from 14 states. A list of the states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Map of Reported Cases page.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 29, 2019, to October 31, 2019. Ill people range in age from less than 1 year to 80 years, with a median age of 25. Seventy-three percent of ill people were female. Of 24 ill people with information available, 8 hospitalizations were reported. No deaths were reported.

WGS analysis did not identify antibiotic resistance in the 23 bacterial isolates available from ill people. Testing of five outbreak isolates using standard antibiotic susceptibility testing methods by CDC’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory confirmed these results.

Investigation of the Outbreak

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence indicate that contact with pet turtles was the likely source of this outbreak.

In interviews, ill people answered questions about animal contact in the week before they became ill. Of the 22 people interviewed, 16 (73%) reported contact with a pet turtle. Of the 8 people who reported the species of the pet turtle, 7 (88%) reported contact with red-eared sliders. The outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg was found in samples collected from an ill person’s pet turtle.

Ill people reported buying pet turtles from pet stores or receiving them as a gift. Among the 10 people who remembered where they purchased their turtle, all 10 reported purchasing or having contact with turtles purchased from various Petco stores. CDC has made Petco aware of the investigation and is working with the company to update their educational materials for customers who purchase pet turtles.

Among 11 people who knew the size of the turtle, 9 reported contact with a turtle that was four inches or larger. Previous Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to turtles with a shell length less than four inches. Due to the increased risk of Salmonella illness linked with these small turtles, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale and distributionexternal icon of turtles with shells less than four inches long as pets.

Regardless of where turtles are purchased or their size, turtles can carry Salmonella germs that can make people sick. Pet stores should provide information about Salmonella to customers and pet owners should always follow steps to stay healthy around their pet.

As of January 9, 2020, this outbreak investigation is over.