CDC reports today:
• A total of 66 persons infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona, and Salmonella Poona have been reported from 16 states.
• The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arizona (2), California (8), Georgia (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (6), Michigan (1), North Carolina (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (3), New York (21), Pennsylvania (7), Texas (3), Virginia (1), and Vermont (1)
• 11 ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
• 55% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger.
• Results of the epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicate exposure to turtles or their environments (e.g., water from a turtle habitat) is the cause of this outbreak.
• Turtles with a shell length of less than 4 inches in size should not be purchased or given as gifts.