ANOTHER DANGER OF GETTING TOO HIGH –

March 4, 2021 – Local and federal health officials say now’s not the time to indulge in any of the abovementioned turtle-touching activities.

Infectious disease experts are investigating a salmonella outbreak that’s linked to the normally harmless pets. So far, eight cases have been diagnosed in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

“While most people don’t think that a tiny turtle purchased for a few bucks on the side of the road could put you in the hospital, it can and does happen,” Coleman Terrell, acting director for Division of Disease Control, said in a statement.

Salmonellosis is a gastrointestinal infection that can prove fatal in some people, especially children and adults with compromised immune systems, according to the C.D.C. The illness can last four to seven days. Common symptoms include diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting — while severe cases can entail a high fever and bloody stool.

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