Pet turtles are causing a small Salmonella outbreak that seems to be on the rise, writes Aubrey Whelan for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In the last year, 10 Pennsylvanians, including some from the Philadelphia region, were among 59 people nationwide to contract the bacteria from small pet turtles, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2021, eight people—four in Delaware County and four in Philadelphia, were sickened, and one died during a Salmonella outbreak.

No one sickened in the current outbreak has died, according to the CDC.

Some of the 2021 cases were linked to turtles sold by roadside vendors.

Salmonella is usually spread through contaminated food, but it can also spread through animals.

Turtles with shells less than four inches long are more often sold as pets and handled by children, making them more at risk of spreading the bacteria to children.

Federal law bans the sale of turtles with shells less than four inches.

Most people suffer four to seven days of diarrhea from exposure to Salmonella. 

However, young children and the elderly can have more serious illnesses requiring hospitalization.

Find out more about the link between Salmonella and small pet turtles in The Philadelphia Inquirer.