Of the six recently hospitalized due to salmonella poisoning, four of the patients were under eight-years-old.
This has been an ongoing problem among rodent pets. In May 2005, U. S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention investigation determined that pet stores where the rodents were purchased were also liable because children became sick soon after buying these pets. CDC also found twenty-eight salmonella cases in nineteen states, most of which were children.
A January 4, 2007 New England Journal of Medicine Report entitled, "Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Enterica Serotype typhimurium Associated with Pet Rodents," states: "We identified matching S. enterica serotype Typhimurium isolates from 28 patients in whom the onset of illness occurred between December 2003 and September 2004. Of 22 patients (or in the case of children, their parents) interviewed, 13 patients (59%) in 10 states reported exposure to pet hamsters, mice, or rats..."
Physicians warn parents to be overly cautious with children who have rodents for pets, advising that the feces of these pets be considered a high health risk when cleaning cages. They also urge that, after cleaning cages and playing with the pets, hands should be washing thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
The strain of salmonella, "Typhimurium," is antibiotic resistant.
