Salmonella outbreak linked to pet geckos

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This article was published 23/03/2024 (747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has linked a recent outbreak of salmonella infections to pet geckos.

Two of the 35 confirmed cases in the salmonella outbreak occurred in Manitoba, the agency said. No deaths have been reported, but five individuals were hospitalized. The outbreak investigation was launched in March 2024 due to an increase in salmonella illnesses in multiple jurisdictions across the country.

The agency said that exposure to geckos has been identified as the likely source of the outbreak, as many of the individuals who became sick reported having direct or indirect contact with geckos, or the environment where the pets were kept, before falling ill.

Some people who became sick did not touch or handle the geckos themselves, but lived in the same house where the pets were kept. Salmonella with the same outbreak strain was found in a gecko habitat from the home of a sickened individual. The agency also used genome sequencing to determine that some salmonella illnesses dating back to 2020 were caused by the same outbreak strain as the illnesses that occurred this year.

The agency says that good hygiene, frequent hand-washing and safe handling of geckos and their environments can help prevent illness. Infection can occur when touching reptiles that can carry salmonella, like geckos, and then touching one’s face, eyes or mouth without first washing one’s hands.

Infection can also occur though the touching of contaminated surfaces and exhibits or aquariums where geckos are kept.

Symptoms of salmonella, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills and abdominal cramps, typically start six to 72 hours after exposure and last for four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment, but in some cases salmonella can cause severe illness and hospitalization.

» The Brandon Sun