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Outbreak
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Bearded Dragons Affects Multiple States
2 months ago •source cdc.gov
United States
A multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections has been linked to pet bearded dragons, with 17 reported cases across 11 states (CA, MN, MO, AR, LA, MI, OH, KY, TN, GA, and SC), resulting in six hospitalizations and one death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health officials are actively investigating the outbreak, which remains open as of November 7, 2025.The outbreak involves Salmonella germs, which bearded dragons can carry in their droppings. These germs can spread to the reptiles' bodies and their surroundings, posing a risk to humans who come into contact with them. The infection can occur when individuals touch the reptiles or their environment and then touch their mouths or food, leading to the ingestion of the bacteria. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, typically appearing six hours to six days after exposure.
The problem was discovered through routine surveillance by the CDC and state health departments, which identified a cluster of Salmonella cases with a common link to bearded dragons. Genetic testing of the bacteria from infected individuals confirmed the connection to the reptiles.
Source: www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/cotham-11-25/index.html
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Comments
This isn’t something new, just something else to scare people with. People need to learn to wash their hands after handling any pet
This one is silly. Wash your hands after handling and tending to your pets. Many pets carry something (usually salmonella, but can carry other things too). This one is just common sense.
I have to disagree somewhat with the other commenters. This is useful information. My grandkids have these reptiles and they let them run all over everything, They put them on their shoulders, they kiss them, and until right now I thought that was perfectly okay. When I was a kid, we were told that reptiles were naturally pretty clean, and I don't know of anyone who ever got sick from handling one. Maybe the world isn't the same place. We've been the guinea pigs of industry for an awfully long time now, and maybe we don't have the resistance we had when I was a kid. Whatever. But in light of this, the information in the link from the CDC is useful. Keeping them away from kitchens, your mouth, etc. strikes me as the real common sense takeaway here. And yeah, of course, wash your hands after handling them.