yahoo article on beardies

[SkyfangRauss]

http://news.yahoo.com/pet-bearded-dragons-linked-salmonella-outbreak-us-215607033.html

sounds more like people aren't being smart, rather than a problem with beardies

 

[jarich]

Its just a common thing with lizards generally. For them its usually non problematic, but of course for us humans its a little trickier, especially young kids and older people. Its a good reminder of being careful to wash hands after handling and to make sure that the dragons arent allowed anywhere where food is handled or where children are likely to touch their mouths to.

 

[timisimaginary]

no surprise. some of it is probably carelessness on the owners' part, and no doubt some is due to the typical misinformed pet stores who don't tell customers about the dangers of salmonella when they buy a reptile.

i wonder how this turned into an "outbreak" though. probably some kid with a pet dragon who handled it right before going to work making burgers at a fast food restaurant or something.

 

[Taterbug]

I think it's an "outbreak" because it's a rare serotype that's hardly ever seen (~25 cases per year). So it's unusual that so many cases have shown up, and most (87%) have been linked to handling dragons. http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/cotham-04-14/index.html

Also a good reminder not to bathe dragons in the kitchen sink. Gross.