News
Salmonella in Fish Tanks
New York Times article, dated April 18, 2006, stated fish owners beware. Researchers reported on cases of bacterial infections serious enough to send some children to the hopsital with high fewer and bloody diahrrea. The infection stemmed from a multidrug resistant strain of Salmonella paratyphi B that was traced by DNA analysis to the fish tanks in the patients' homes.
The risk of catching salmonella bacteria from pet reptiles, chicks, ducklings and other animals has been widely recognized for decades. Although the number of salmonella outbreaks linked to pet fish and aquariums is relatively small and widely scattered we should all be aware of the dangers since most of us have aquariums in our schools.
The use of caution and common sense is suggested when working with fish and aquariums. Some suggestions given for handling fish and aquariums are: wash hands frequently with soap and water, clean the area and sink after working with a bleach solution, four tablespoons per liter of lukewarm water. It is even suggested to eliminate the replacement of one-third of the tank's water twice each month and to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding filtration.
We do not have to panic or remove all aquariums from our schools. We should just be aware and use common sense when handling fish and aquariums.
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