Many pets can carry the bacterium Salmonella, which can cause the infection known as salmonellosis. Although there are several types of Salmonella known to science, salmonellosis can generally make you feel sick: it makes your stomach hurt, cause diarrhea and triggers fever. Sometimes, the symptoms can become so severe that complete medical intervention is necessary to alleviate the situation.

At home, you can take some precautionary measures to protect your family from Salmonella infection.

Cook your food well. Always cook your meals well, especially if it has chicken and egg as ingredients.

Keep your food preparation area and utensils clean. Kitchen surfaces, dining tables and food preparation implements like cutting boards, knives and other utensils should be kept sanitized all the time. Always clean up especially after handling or preparing raw meat to avoid cross contamination. Use safe and natural cleaning solutions like those from BabyGanics, to avoid contaminating your kitchen items with the other nasties—toxic chemicals.

Be careful when handling pets. Many animals we keep as pets can cause Salmonella infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions reptiles like lizards, snakes and turtles, as well as chicks and ducklings as the most common household pets that can pass on Salmonella to people. It is best to avoid giving such pets to children, especially if the animals are small enough to be enticing for kids to put them in their mouths. Dogs, cats, birds, horses and other farm animals can also transmit salmonella through their feces or stool. The best way to avoid Salmonella infection via transmission from pets is to constantly wash your hands with soap and running water and to use hand sanitizers often. BabyGanics’ Fine & Handy Foaming Hand Soap and the Germinator Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer may be your child’s best defense against Salmonella bacteria. It’s safe, it’s natural and it gets rid of the bug without leaving toxic residue behind.

Avoid contact with possible Salmonella carriers. If you have a weak immune system, it is best to avoid contact with any reptiles, chicks, ducklings and farm animals. If you are worried about your child catching salmonellosis, be extra cautious when bringing him to facilities like aviaries and zoos. Even better, avoid petting zoos altogether. Teach your child never to pick up wild animals or animals that look sick and may be dying.

Related article:

The Common Causes of Food Contamination

Tips When Preparing Homemade Baby Food