Pet turtles : a source of germs

The little glassy-eyed creatures may look cute and harmless, but turtles can make people sick. The most common germ spread from turtles is called Salmonella. People can get Salmonella by coming in contact with turtles or their habitats.Small turtles are especially a problem because kids are more likely to put these animals in their mouths, kiss them, and not wash their hands after handling them. Because of this health risk, since 1975, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of small turtles with a shell less than 4 inches long