If you are the owner of a bearded lizard, the CDC warns you to be careful as contact with the lizard species has caused 44 people to contract a strain of salmonella. This finding from the CDC is similar to the report made about turtles in the beginning of 2020. This recent study in relation to bearded dragons shows illness dates between December 24, 2020, and December 2, 2021, with an age range of younger than one-year-old to 84 years old. Of the 44 people who reported an infection, four reside in Wisconsin. From the outbreak map on the CDC’s website, four is seen as the highest number of reported cases in any state. However, federal health officials estimate that the actual number of infections in the USA is higher than the reported number, as many people who might have gotten infected did not need treatment and felt documenting their illness was unnecessary. The CDC recommends a series of steps to stay healthy if you own a bearded dragon. These tips include: Wash your hands, don’t kiss or snuggle your bearded dragon, don’t eat or drink around it, keep it out of the kitchen and keep its supplies and habitat clean. If you are unsure of how to properly clean and care for your bearded dragon, a care sheet from Petco can be found here.
