Key points
These outbreak investigations are over. Although any turtle can carry Salmonella germs that can spread to you and make you sick, turtles with shells less than 4 inches long are a known source of illness. Always take steps to stay health around your pet turtle.
Where sick people live
This map shows where the 63 people in these Salmonella outbreaks lived.
These outbreaks may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people was likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.