OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A salmonella outbreak has spread throughout Washington and we have turtles to blame. 

Julie Graham with the State Department of Health says it’s very common for reptiles and amphibians to have salmonella.

When people handle the animals without washing there hands it causes the bacteria to spread.

Graham says the bacteria is most dangerous to children because of their infatuation with the animals.



Graham says to make sure your kids wash up and to keep an eye out if they begin experiencing a fever or stomach aches especially if they’ve been playing with turtles, frogs, lizards or other reptiles and amphibians.