In October 2022, CDC announced a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis linked to contact with pet bearded dragons. A total of 32 people with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Vitkin (12 people) and Salmonella IIIb 61:z52:z53 (20 people) were reported from 20 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 21, 2021, to December 22, 2022. Of 25 people with information available, 10 (40%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

State and local public health officials interviewed people about the animals they came into contact with during the week before they got sick. Of the 26 people interviewed, 17 (65%) reported contact with a pet bearded dragon before getting sick. Contact most frequently occurred at people’s homes and included touching the animals or their enclosures, feeding them, and putting them on the lap, head, or shoulders.

In both outbreaks, 15 people reported purchasing their bearded dragons from pet stores or online. The stores reported sourcing bearded dragons from multiple breeders and suppliers, and several were common between both outbreaks.

Salmonella Vitkin Outbreak

• Among the eight people who reported contact with bearded dragons, four reported purchasing their bearded dragon from different pet stores.
• The outbreak strain was not identified in samples from bearded dragons or habitats.

Salmonella IIIb 61:z52:z53 Outbreak

• Utah and Colorado public health officials identified the outbreak strain from samples collected from a sick person’s bearded dragon and its habitat.
• Among the 9 people who reported contact with bearded dragons, all reported purchasing or having contact with bearded dragons from different pet stores. At least five breeders and suppliers were identified, including one that supplied multiple stores.

Canadian Outbreak of Salmonella Vitkin

Two cases of Salmonella Vitkin infections in Ontario residents were detected by Canadian Public Health authorities. Onset dates were roughly 4 weeks apart in April and May 2022. No hospitalizations or deaths were reported. The proxy respondent for each patient reported bearded dragons in the household. Two environmental isolates obtain from an environmental swab were positive for Salmonella Vitkin. Canada human isolates and the 2 environmental isolates were genetically related within 0-3 cgMLST allele differences; they also were genetically related within 0-9 cgMLST allele differences to the 12 US clinical cases.

The outbreak was declared over on March 3, 2023.