We are very clean and always use hand gel or wash our hands after touching the snakes. Since becoming pregnant (where I entered a high risk group for salmonella) and since having a baby (who is high risk until the age of five years) I have exercised extreme caution. I do not allow the snakes to crawl on my clothes I am wearing unless I can change before holding the baby. I never ever put snake dishes in the sink except to bleach them, and I then bleach the sink and counter tops. Of course I have a dedicated snake dish sponge, wish I soak in bleach after each use. If the bowls have fecal matter (none have for months and months though) I wash them outside and bleach them. I run all hides and bowls (after bleaching) through the dish washer weekly. I spot clean the cages daily, and remove some bedding along with any waste matter. I wipe down the inside of the glass, and I thouroughly rinse off any snake that was resting in fecal matter (such as if he messed in his hide overnight). All tanks are cleaned entirely monthly or bi-monthly, and I routinely use a bleach solution and clean the door handles of the snake room and the tables/surfaces in there, and the floor. It's worth it- it keeps our snakes to an extremely high standard of care, which is always good, and it keeps our child safe. This routine isn't just about keeping salmonella at bay, either- it's about caring pet ownership and protecting our investment and our beloved snakes.

Before the pregnancy, I was careless about the handling aspect. My snakes crawled all over me, crawled on the bed (not now since the baby often is on the bed), and I would eat while holding a snake, etc. I have never had salmonella, or if I have, it was mild enough that it went away on its own. I also am terrified of doctors (phobic of needles). I would have to be near death before I'd go to one. So I can't say for SURE I never had a mild case of it. I have a very strong immune system and am an extremely healthy person who has never been sick in my life, so I think my tolerance is high. I suspect the same of my child, who is breast fed and of course shared my body for nine months.

At any rate, it's not something I worry over, but I do take precautions for mine AND my animals' sakes!

To ban reptiles for this would be stupid- if so, we should ban eggs and chicken and pet birds and even dogs and some humans carry salmonella *eyeroll*