CDC investigating water frog breeder for salmonella

From kingsnake.com (and also, h/t to reader Susan Fox:

The Centers for Disease Control announced yesterday that it is still investigating an outbreak of salmonella typhimurium associated with African Dwarf Frogs bred at Blue Lobster Farms in California.

• This nationwide outbreak is ongoing. As of July 18, 2011, a total of 241 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 42 states since April 1, 2009. These infections are associated with African dwarf frogs–a type of water frog–and water from their habitats (e.g., tanks or aquariums).



• Epidemiologic, traceback and laboratory findings between 2009 and 2011 link this ongoing nationwide outbreak of human Salmonella Typhimurium infections to a single African dwarf frog breeding facility in Madera County, California, Blue Lobster Farms. The owner of Blue Lobster Farms voluntarily stopped shipping African dwarf frogs in late April but resumed shipping the frogs in early June. These frogs may be found in pet stores, educational stores, toy stores, fairs, carnivals, from online retailers and other venues.



• Public health officials with the Madera County Department of Environmental Health are currently working with the owner of Blue Lobster Farms to conduct interventions and ongoing testing and monitoring of the frog breeding facility. At this time, the effectiveness of these interventions is unknown, and reports of ill persons infected with the outbreak strain are continuing.

More information at kingsnake.com.



Photo: CDC.

Comments

[H. Houlahan]

241 REPORTS. From one breeder and one species of aquarium pet.



But godforbid I give the dog a raw chicken neck.