Pet Turtles Return — and So Does Salmonella

In 1975 the Food and Drug Administration banned the sales of little turtles and the ban has prevented almost 100,000 cases of salmonella. But a March 16 article in The New York Times states that “recently turtles have been making a comeback — and bringing salmonella with them.”

Pet shops are even giving the turtles away free or saying they are selling them for strictly educational purposes.

Years ago the Board of Education banned turtles from schools. A famous question on the laboratory specialist examination was, “What animal is prohibited from the classroom?” The answer, of course, was turtles and the reason was that the turtles carry salmonella.

The Science Safety Manual states, “Dangerous animals, including poisonous snakes, reptiles and insects should never be allowed in classrooms”; and “Certain live or dead animals collected from their natural environment should not be allowed in classrooms”; and “Diseases may be transmitted from turtles …”

Make sure your school adheres to the recommendations outlined in the Science Safety Manual by the Department of Education. It is also a good idea not to accept “donated” creatures into your science departments.