Information & Risks About Salmonella & Animals:
Contact with animals can be a source of human Salmonella infections. Most animals can carrySalmonella bacteria but appear healthy & clean & show no signs of illness. Salmonella bacteria can be shed in their feces & can easily contaminate their bodies & anything in the area where they live & roam. Therefore, you should always follow these recommendations for protecting yourself & others, especially children, from contact with Salmonella bacteria that animals may carry:
Wash your hands:
•Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with water & soap right after touching an animalor anything in the area where they live & roam. This includes after handling pet food & treats.
•Thorough hand washing is especially important before preparing, serving or eating food, drinks or preparing baby bottles. Also, always wash hands right after handling or cleaning up after your pets.
•If soap & water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
•Adults should supervise young children when washing hands to make sure they’re thoroughly & properly washing their hands.
•Pet owners should make sure their friends & family wash their hands after touching their pets.
Practice safe handling of animals:
•Do not let animals in areas where food or drink is prepared, served, or stored, such as kitchens, or outdoor patios.
•Some animals may get ill from a Salmonella infection and can have diarrhea.
•If your animal has diarrhea, see your pet’s veterinarian.
Clean up properly when handling tenrecs:
•To prevent cross-contamination, do not bathe animals in the kitchen sink or in bathroom sinks or bathtubs unless you disinfect the area afterwards to kill any bacteria in the sink/tub.
•Be careful with children & animals:
•Young children are especially at risk for illness because their immune systems are still developing & because they are more likely than others to put their fingers or other items into their mouths.
•Children younger than 5 years of age should not be allowed to touch or be around pet food, treats, or supplements and should be kept away from animal feeding areas to prevent illness & injury.
Persons who think they might have become ill from contact with animals should talk with their health care providers:
•Most persons infected with Salmonella bacteria develop diarrhea, fever, & abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. In some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
*So long as you’re practicing proper hygiene- i.e. washing your hands, & you aren’t kissing an animal covered in poop, or licking or putting ananimals feet in your mouth, or eating their poop, you should be just fine.*
Please acknowledge this informational sheet to signify that you understand the risks of salmonella with animals & how to prevent getting salmonella from them.
