The fact is yes 90% of reptiles carry salmonella in their digestive tract. Yes they pass it from their bodies in their fecal matter. As do cats, dogs, hamsters, parakeets, etc. Next time you see your cute fluffy puppy romping around in the yard (where it poops) and then comes in and curls up next to your child you are exposing your child to the possibility of salmonella poisoning - does that make you a bad parent as well?

Salmonella needs to be passed from the fecal matter into the mouth and ingested for it to be harmful -- by washing off the snake, by not allowing the child to put her hands or the snake in her mouth and by cleaning off the the child after the handling session - you virtually eliminate the risks.

I was under the impression one of the purposes of these forums was to help educate others to be responsible herpers. So instead of perpetrating the fear and ignorance you should be praising the poster for doing EVERYTHING right.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

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