It’s not easy being green: Pet frogs are blamed for salmonella outbreak

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Pet frogs are being blamed for a national salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 48 people.

The illnesses occurred from June through November, with reports coming in from 25 states. Health officials investigating the illnesses found that many of the people said they’d been in contact with frogs such as the African dwarf frog. The salmonella strain was found in aquariums with frogs in three homes where illnesses occurred.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the outbreak Monday.

Pet reptiles have been fingered as a source of salmonella infection before. At least 107 people were sickened in a recent outbreak blamed on turtles.

-- Associated Press

Video: African dwarf frogs swim in an aquarium. Credit: cambria2113 via YouTube