An affectionate lick from the family cat isn’t likely to make your child sick. Even doggie kisses are basically benign. But handling pet turtles and other reptiles can be risky because their outer skin and shell carry salmonella bacteria, which can cause serious or even life-threatening infections. The 2007 death of a 4-week-old Florida baby was linked to salmonella from a small turtle. Young children are especially susceptible to harmful germ spread because they don’t know right from risk. No matter how much you remind them not to, they’re bound to scoop up a small pet turtle, even put it in their mouths, or put their hands in their mouths after holding it. Letting the turtle roam the house, use the family swimming pool, or even cleaning the turtle tank in the kitchen sink, can put everyone’s health in jeopardy because salmonella from its shell and skin can cross-contaminate food, kitchen or eating utensils, or areas of the house that you and your children contact, such as countertops, floors, and carpet.

Because of the health risk, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibited the sale of small turtles with a shell less than four inches long. That ban, which has been in effect since 1975, prevents 100,000 salmonella infections in children each year in the U.S. Still, according to the FDA, salmonella infections are on the rise, infecting 103 people--mostly children--in 33 states from May 2007 to January 2008 because of a resurgence in the sale of small turtles by some pet shops, flea markets, street vendors, and online stores.

Germ Defense: Don’t buy small turtles for pets or as gifts. If you have kids under age 5 or a baby on the way, remove any pet turtle (or other reptile or amphibian) from your home. If you have older children who can’t imagine parting with their turtle pet, set some ground rules:

•    Don’t let the turtle out of its tank.
•    If you or your kids touch the turtle, its tank or supplies, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards. That advice applies anywhere your child touches a turtle, such as at a maritime aquarium, daycare, or petting zoo.
•    Clean the turtle tank and supplies in the tub (not in the kitchen sink) and disinfect it with bleach afterwards.