Salmonella outbreak linked to contact with geckos

Of the 35 cases of salmonella reported in Canada, 18 were in Ontario

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is investigating a countrywide salmonella outbreak and has identified exposure to geckos as a likely source.

As of Friday, 35 infections have been reported in seven provinces, almost half of them in Ontario. PHAC is continuing to receive reports of illness in this ongoing outbreak.

PHAC said many people who have been infected have reported direct or indirect contact with geckos or their habitats. Some of those infected did not touch or directly come in contact with a gecko, but they lived in the same house where geckos were kept.

Of the 35 cases of salmonella reported in Canada, 18 were in Ontario. Other provinces where infections have been reported are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick. The reported salmonella infections have caused sickness between May 2020 and January 2024. So far, five individuals have been hospitalized.

Ages of those who have been infected range from zero to 84, PHAC reported. Twenty per cent of reported infections are in children aged under six.

Using whole genome sequencing, investigators determined that some salmonella illnesses dating back to 2020 were caused by the same outbreak strain that was causing infections in 2024.

The health agency said that symptoms usually start between six to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria, lasting for four to seven days.

Symptoms may include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and abdominal cramps, PHAC said. The health agency further added that those infected with salmonella can spread it to other people for several weeks after they were infected.