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Good news fell on Friday, so you may have missed an alert about a hedgehog that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention broadcast early in the afternoon.
According to the CDC, these tiny, thorny and adorable mammals, which have gained popularity as pets in recent years, could carry Salmonella germs and transmit them to nearby humans.
"CDCs and public health officials in several states are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infection (…) related to contact with pet hedgehogs," reads in the opinion of the agency.
As of Friday, the CDC said that there had been 11 people in eight sick states of a strain of Salmonella typhimurium; in 10 of the 11 cases, "sick people reported contact with a hedgehog," said the agency.
Although one person was hospitalized, no deaths were reported. Three cases have been reported in Missouri, two in Minnesota and one in Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Texas and Wyoming.
The researchers took samples of hedgehogs from the homes of the two Minnesota patients and identified the strain of salmonella that made people sick. It is still unclear whether any or all of the pet hedgehogs came from a "common supplier," said the CDC.
Diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps last four to seven days. In rare cases, a salmonella infection can lead to death – a risk important enough that the CDC kindly suggests that some households "consider a different pet".
However, for those who could never part with the small "Spike", "Sonic" or "Shaquill O" Neal ", the agency recommended to avoid any direct contact with their hedgehogs: c & # 39, that is, do not muzzle them or support them up to your face for the perfect Instagram photo.
"Do not kiss and huddle hedgehogs, as this could transmit Salmonella germs to your face and mouth and make you sick," warned the CDC. "Do not let hedgehogs roam freely in places where food is prepared or stored, such as kitchens."
If you touch a hedgehog or clean the supplies, wash your hands immediately afterwards. And do not clean the hedgehog's cage or toys in the same place as you prepare human food.
This can be a daunting challenge for a new generation of hedgehog owners wanting to cuddle with their new pets. Just last week, hedgehogs were legalized as pets in Fairfax County, Virginia's most populous county, as reported by the Washington Post's Dana Hedgpeth. They are legal in most of the United States – but remain banned in California, Georgia, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania and the country's capital, according to the Hedgehog Welfare Society.
2019 © The Washington Post
This article was originally published by The Washington Post.
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