Dealing with salmonella?

[dystopoly]

I've owned reptiles myself for about 4 years and not once have I ever had trouble letting my lizards wander around on my bed or in my room (nor have I ever met another owner who's had any trouble), but I've been staying with my grandma for a few months and she keeps citing these articles about how my beardie's salmonella is gonna kill me, and I can't seem to convince her that it's really not that big of a deal as long as you make sure to disinfect your own hands after handling. Does anyone have articles I can point to or any personal experience to cite that I can use to help explain that my poor beardie isn't a biohazard?

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....you really can't find proof other than the fact that most reptile owners don't get sick. That being said, there is proof that reptiles can transmit salmonella , among other things. The best thing you can do is put her mind at ease by not allowing the beardie on any surface that you eat from [ kitchen counter/table, etc.] or climb on your pillow or places where your face would be in contact. Don't use the sink [ especially kitchen ] to bathe or wash your dragon or it's bowls.

Be aware too that older folks + people with a weaker immune system can get sick more easily than young + healthy , so her fears are somewhat understandable.

 

[DaisyDragon123]

Unfortunately most reptiles are carriers of salmonella and the percentage of carriers is so high that you must assume all have it. You will not be able to find a credible article that states there is little to no risk of salmonella poisoning. Good husbandry and hand washing help. However, if you let your dragon have free roam of the house and he has come into contact with his own poo and then walks over your bed or floors, he has cross-contaminated these surfaces....sort of like if you were to smear raw chicken over your bed and floors. Elderly, children and immune compromised persons are the most adversely affected. A healthy adult can usually shake salmonella poisoning but persons at risk can easily need hospitalization. Your grandmother is probably always going to be concerned about this. I would have a designated lizard holding areas away from your grandmother and always disinfect afterwords. You could point out to her that most cases of salmonella poisoning come from human food.....fruit, veggies and raw meat not reptiles. You also could soak your dragon before handling that way your grandmother thinks it has had a proper bath...just to ease her mind.