soloman5 Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 My partner is pregnant and she has just got a turtle (we also have water dragons). I knew that you can get salmonella from turtles and reptiles, and the article I was reading up on said that pregnant women should avoid all contact with turtles/reptiles and when you have a newborn they should be removed from inside the home. Is this advice over the top???? as this is going to be very difficult for us to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reptilenutt Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 I have had Turtles for years and my good lady loves playing with them ...She has had 5 kids and none have had salmonella from any of the turtles . If you are realy worried then just keep you hand well washed and there should be no problems ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloman5 Posted September 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 That's good to hear, helps relieve the nerves. The amount of handwashing we do I'm surprised we still have skin as we handle our dragons and turtle alot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Wash hands thoroughly after handling any pets or anything to do with them. Get a good disinfecting liquid hand wash and wet your hands completely before using it as it is far more effective then. I spent over thirty years working as an environmental health officer including interviewing people with salmonella and trasporting infected faecal samples to the lab and have never had salmonella. It cannot jump accross the room but is spread by the faecal/oral route so good hygiene will prevent catching it. Reptiles can carry it but so can many other critters including humans. When baby is born remember that when small we humans check things out like reptiles by puting things in our mouths so avoid baby having contact where the animals have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake kid Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 From what I have heard almost anything that is capable of carrying the virus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 It is actually a bacteria and there are thousands of serotypes, most of which are not in NZ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 +1 I worked at a sewage treatment plant and people who are careful about washing their hands and avoiding hand to mouth/face contact seldom get sick. Some modern habits are unhelpful in this regard for example not many people think to wash their hands before smoking, chewing gum or eating takeaways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I would have to agree. I used to have to run a rural sewage treatment works while the normal operator was away on leave. This was handy because I got access to all the daphnia in the oxidation ponds. Never got crook, it is just common sense realy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 ekk how did you disinfect the daphnia? There was loads of tubifex at the plant I worked at but I don't think I would have been game lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 The fish never worried. A quick rinse and fed them out or froze them into icecubes---a little more careful with the icecubes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 LOL at ice cubes. had to make sure the right ones went in the gin Alan? Anyway several health works also have turts of various kinds in their waiting areas. hygine hygine hygine Navarre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soloman5 Posted September 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Thanks all for the info, handwashing not a problem as it's just routine when handling a cleaning our pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Use an alcohol sanitiser, and keep one near its enclosure, and sanitise your hands after contact with the reptile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Alcohol is good on dry hands but the others are best if you wet your hands well first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkfur Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Never lick your turtle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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