Don't play with your Snake - Or, at least wash the Salmonella off your hands afterward
Ashley Meeks of the Las Cruces Sun-News reported that 10-year-old Eric Spagnola was hospitalized for nearly a week and was hooked up to IVs. His stool test came back positive for salmonella.
According to Meeks, Spagnola's mother's boyfriend keeps a python. More than 90 percent of reptiles carry the salmonella bacteria, according to the L.A. County health department - though tracking it down to a source will be nearly impossible.
Salmonella can damage organs and kills a reported 400 people a year in the U.S.
So, other than not having a python, what are your options?
Proper hand-washing
• Wet your hands with clean running water - warm, if available - and apply soap.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces, making sure to clean between fingers and under fingernails.
• Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds, or about the time it takes to sing the "ABC's"
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
* If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
• Apply product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
* Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
