I have a small Mediterranean tortoise for a pet. A friend wanted to hold him, which I permitted, but insisted that she wash her hands thoroughly after, which she thought was silly. She was away at school for a year, and when I saw her again, she looked as if she were recovering from illness. When I asked about it, she said that she had been bedridden for a month with salmonella and consequent complications. Pet reptiles are a common vector by which the salmonella organism reaches humans, and I worried that my animal might have infected her. She said, though, that she had handled three baby water turtles belonging to a friend at school and got sick soon after. Sure enough, she and the friend had both laughed about what they thought were exaggerated fears about such danger. Right now, I have friends, a married couple, to whom I have gently suggested that kissing their pet iguana is a bad idea. They think I’m being silly.
I have a small Mediterranean tortoise for a pet. A friend wanted to hold him, which I permitted, but insisted that she wash her hands thoroughly after, which she thought was silly. She was away at school for a year, and when I saw her again, she looked as if she were recovering from illness. When I asked about it, she said that she had been bedridden for a month with salmonella and consequent complications. Pet reptiles are a common vector by which the salmonella organism reaches humans, and I worried that my animal might have infected her. She said, though, that she had handled three baby water turtles belonging to a friend at school and got sick soon after. Sure enough, she and the friend had both laughed about what they thought were exaggerated fears about such danger. Right now, I have friends, a married couple, to whom I have gently suggested that kissing their pet iguana is a bad idea. They think I’m being silly.