A federal law bans the sale and distribution of turtles with shells less than 4 inches long as pets because of the repeated illnesses and outbreaks. Despite the ban, some online retailers, pet stores, and roadside markets continue to sell small turtles.

CDC and public health officials in several states are collecting different types of data to investigate multistate outbreaks of Salmonella Stanley and Salmonella Poona infections.

Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that contact with small turtles is making people sick.

A total of 51 people infected with one of the outbreak strains of Salmonella has been reported from 21 states. Of these reported illnesses, 38 people were infected with the Salmonella Stanley strain and 13 people with the Salmonella Poona strain. Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 20, 2023, to July 9, 2024. Of 48 people with information available, 23 (48%) have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.