CDC along with their state and local partners investigated an outbreak of salmonellosis linked to contact with small pet turtles. A total of 28 infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Stanley (25 people) or Salmonella Pomona (3 people) were reported from 16 states. Illnesses ranged from September 17, 2021 to September 12, 2022. Ten people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Many people in this outbreak reported purchasing turtles with shells less than 4 inches long from online stores before getting sick. Three people in this outbreak purchased their turtles from a website called myturtlestore. com. However, these turtles can also be purchased illegally online and at stores, flea markets and roadside stands.

On May 9, 2022, the Tennessee Department of Health collected samples from 2 small turtles from a sick person's home for testing. These turtles were purchased from myturtlestore.com. WGS showed that the Salmonella on the turtles and their environment were closely related to bacteria from sick people.

WGS analysis of bacteria from 27 people's samples, 5 turtle samples and 6 environmental samples did not predict resistance to any antibiotics.