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Outbreaks of salmonellosis have been linked to multiple food items, including poultry, peanut butter, and a variety of fruits; pet reptiles have also been implicated. Although the FDA banned the sale and distribution of small turtles (shell length, <4 inches) as pets in 1975, outbreaks linked to them continue to occur. Young children — particularly those aged <3 months — are at increased risk for developing systemic disease (bacteremia and meningitis) following infection with Salmonella.
This recent outbreak, occurring between April and September 2014, was caused by a rare Salmonella serotype. The cluster involved 40 people in 12 states and was identified using PulseNet, the molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance. Six…