Public Health Notice: Outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to snakes and rodents

May 14, 2024 – Final Notice

On this page

• Why you should take note
• Investigation summary
• Symptoms
• What you should do to protect your health
• Epidemiological information
• Investigation History
• Additional information
• Media contact
• Public inquiries

Why you should take note

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) collaborated with provincial public health partners to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella infections in eight provinces.

Investigation findings identified exposure to snakes and feeder rodents as the likely source of the outbreak.

Many of the individuals who became sick reported direct or indirect contact with snakes and feeder rodents (used as reptile food) before their illnesses occurred. Some people who became sick did not touch or handle the snakes or feeder rodents themselves, but lived in the same house where they were kept.

A single common supplier of snakes or feeder rodents was not identified.

This investigation has been closed, however this outbreak is a reminder that many species of animals, including snakes and feeder rodents, can carry Salmonella bacteria. These animals can also spread bacteria even if they don't show any signs of illness.

Always practice good hand hygiene and frequent handwashing after contact with snakes, feeder rodents and their environments. This advice is based on the findings from this investigation and past outbreaks of Salmonella illnesses linked to snakes and rodents that highlighted the important role reptile owners and business operators can play in preventing new illnesses linked to these types of pets.

Investigation summary

In total, 76 confirmed cases of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- and Salmonella Typhimurium illness were reported in this outbreak in the following provinces: British Columbia (3), Alberta (11), Saskatchewan (8), Manitoba (3), Ontario (34), Quebec (12), New Brunswick (2) and Newfoundland and Labrador (3).

Individuals became sick between February 2022 and April 2024. Ten individuals have been hospitalized. One person died and provincial public health partners confirmed that Salmonella was the cause of death. Individuals who became ill are between 0 and 96 years of age. Thirteen (17%) cases were in children 5 years of age or younger. Approximately half of the cases (50%) were female.

The outbreak strain of Salmonella that made people sick was found in samples from snakes, snake habitats, and feeder rodents from homes of ill individuals.

Symptoms

Symptoms typically start 6 to 72 hours after exposure to Salmonella bacteria, and usually last for 4-7 days.

Symptoms may include:

• fever
• chills
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• headache
• abdominal cramps

People who are infected with Salmonella bacteria can spread Salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected, even if they don't have symptoms. Salmonella can spread by person to person contact and contaminated surfaces. Most people who become ill from a Salmonella infection will recover fully after a few days without treatment, but it can also cause severe illness and hospitalization.

Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. If you think you're experiencing symptoms, contact your health care provider.

Those at higher risk for serious illness include:

• older adults
• young children
• people who are pregnant
• people with weakened immune systems

What you should do to protect your health

You can get sick with Salmonella by touching reptiles and rodents, their food, and their environments and then touching your face, eyes, or mouth without first washing your hands.

You can also get sick by touching contaminated surfaces or objects in a home as well as exhibits or aquariums where snakes and feeder rodents are kept. This can occur at birthday parties, school or daycare events, museums, science centres, zoos, or at a travelling reptile show.

To prevent the direct or indirect spread of Salmonella to others, follow the advice outlined in this section to help reduce your risk of becoming ill from contact with reptiles (including snakes), rodents, and their environments.

• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after touching a reptile or rodent, and anything they eat, or after being in the area where they live, play or have touched surfaces or objects.
  • If visiting an exhibit or event with reptiles or rodents, wash your hands when you leave animal areas, even if you do not touch the animals directly.
• Clean any surfaces or objects your reptile or rodent touches with soapy water followed by a household sanitizer.
• Never kiss a pet reptile or rodent.
• Do not keep reptiles or rodents in homes, daycare centers, schools, or other facilities with children 5 years and under.
• Always supervise children when they touch or play with reptiles or rodents.
  • Do not let them put reptiles and rodents or their supplies near their face or share their food or drinks with pets.
  • Make sure they thoroughly wash their hands after touching reptiles or rodents.
  • Children 5 years and under should not handle reptiles or rodents.
• Keep reptiles and rodents and all their food, containers, enclosures, and any objects that have been in their enclosures, such as plants or enrichment items, away from the kitchen and other places where food is made or eaten.
• When possible, clean enclosures and accessories outside the home. If this is not possible, use a laundry sink or bathtub and thoroughly clean and sanitize afterwards.
• Clean or bathe reptiles or rodents in a dedicated plastic bin, not in the kitchen or bathroom sink.
• Freezing rodents does not kill Salmonella.
• Do not keep frozen rodents in the same fridge or freezer as human food. If this is not possible, keep frozen rodents in a dedicated container separated from human food.
• Always defrost and prepare frozen rodents outside the kitchen, using dedicated utensils and containers.
• Be aware of the specific needs of your reptile. Stress for a reptile can increase the shedding of Salmonella.
• Always keep reptiles and live rodents in habitats specifically designed for them.
• If you choose to have a reptile or rodent in your home, talk to your health care provider or veterinarian about the right reptile or rodent for your family, especially if your family includes children 5 years and younger, pregnant or immunocompromised people, or adults 65 years of age and over.

Epidemiological information

Figure 1 is an epidemiological curve for this outbreak, which shows the number of new cases by month. Outbreak investigators use this information to show when illnesses begin, when they peak, and when they trail off. It can take several weeks from the time a person becomes ill to when the illness is reported, and testing confirms a link to the outbreak. Data are available for 76 cases.

Figure 1 - Text Equivalent

Table 1 – Number of people confirmed to be infected with Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- and Salmonella Typhimurium by year and month of symptom onset or earliest available date

Year and month of symptom onset or earliest available date	Number of cases
January 2022	0
February 2022	1
March 2022	5
April 2022	1
May 2022	2
June 2022	4
July 2022	3
August 2022	3
September 2022	3
October 2022	6
November 2022	0
December 2022	6
January 2023	2
February 2023	8
March 2023	3
April 2023	1
May 2023	3
June 2023	1
July 2023	3
August 2023	1
September 2023	2
October 2023	2
November 2023	3
December 2023	4
January 2024	1
February 2024	2
March 2024	4
April 2024	2
May 2024	0

Investigation history

Additional information

• Salmonellosis (Salmonella)
• Salmonella and Reptiles
• Key steps to help reduce zoonotic disease transmission from rodents
• Pets: Healthy animals, healthy people
• Rodents: Healthy animals, healthy people
• Reptiles and amphibians: Healthy animals, healthy people

Media contact

Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
613-957-2983

Public inquiries

Call toll-free: 1-866-225-0709
Email: info@hc-sc.gc.ca