Big Medicine

Santa Fe NM--The New Mexico Department of Health is warning parents not to buy African Dwarf frogs as holiday presents for their children, due to a national outbreak of salmonella linked to these frogs.

The Department of Health is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate 80 cases in 28 states, including one confirmed case in a 2-year-old girl from Bernalillo County in November.

National cases occurred between April and November 2009.

The Department’s epidemiologists interviewed the family, and the Department’s Scientific Laboratory Division linked samples from the family’s aquarium to the national outbreak strain that has primarily infected children younger than five.

New Mexico’s investigation into the source of the case’s frogs led to a breeder in Northern California who distributes African Dwarf frogs nationwide and supplied frogs to people who were confirmed cases in three other states.

The Department of Health and CDC recommend the following:

Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching any amphibian (e.g., frog) or reptile (e.g, turtle), their housing, or anything (for example, food) that comes in contact with them or their housing. Adults should assist young children with hand washing.

Watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection, such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Call your health care provider if you or a family member has any of these symptoms.

Persons at increased risk for serious infection from salmonellosis are children younger than 5 years old, elderly persons, and persons with weakened immune systems. These persons should avoid contact with amphibians (e.g., frogs) and reptiles (e.g., turtles) and anything that comes in contact with them (e.g., aquarium, habitat, and water).

Do not allow amphibians or reptiles to roam freely through the house, especially in food preparation areas.

Habitats and their contents should be carefully cleaned outside of the home. Use disposable gloves when cleaning and do not dispose of water in sinks used for food preparation or for obtaining drinking water.

Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after cleaning habitats.

For more information about the national outbreak, look up: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typh1209/index.html.