Can Salmonella be airborne?!
Question: Can Salmonella be airborne!?
We have a turtle, newly acquired, in a wide tank with a locking screen top!. Nobody ever handles the turtle but me, and that is if I am cleaning his tank!. We have a filter on it now, and I put a small white chalky turtle at the bottom-which is supposed to kill Salmonella!. My father is all over me to get rid of the turtle!. He thinks "it's putting my 2 year old at risk of getting Salmonella!." Can you get Salmonella poisoning by breathing it in!? I didn't think it was an airborne bacteria, but maybe I'm naive!. Please help me shed some light on this situation!. I would like to assure him that it is okay!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
No, Salmonella aren't going to be airborne!. However you will be surprised how easily they get smeared onto the same surfaces your toddler touches!. For that reason, I agree with your father in saying that it's not a good idea to keep a turtle if you have a two-year-old!. I see a lot of cases of Salmonella in toddlers, and sure enough, they've got a pet reptile in the home!.
If you absolutely have your heart set on caring for this terrapin, here are some tips:
1!. Do NOT let your kid play with the turtle!. Not until he's a bit older, anyway!. If your turtle is less than 4 inches in diameter, your kid could (and will) easily stick the turtle in his mouth!.
2!. Do not clean your turtle's tank and equipment in the kitchen sink!. Go clean it in the driveway, instead!.
3!. Don't let your turtle walk around outside of its habitat!. Especially keep the turtle out of the kitchen, off the counters and EVERYTHING like that!.
4!. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling your turtle or cleaning its tank!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you absolutely have your heart set on caring for this terrapin, here are some tips:
1!. Do NOT let your kid play with the turtle!. Not until he's a bit older, anyway!. If your turtle is less than 4 inches in diameter, your kid could (and will) easily stick the turtle in his mouth!.
2!. Do not clean your turtle's tank and equipment in the kitchen sink!. Go clean it in the driveway, instead!.
3!. Don't let your turtle walk around outside of its habitat!. Especially keep the turtle out of the kitchen, off the counters and EVERYTHING like that!.
4!. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling your turtle or cleaning its tank!.Www@Answer-Health@Com