Pet Frogs that Caused Salmonella Outbreak Being Sold Again: CDC

African dwarf frogs are back on sale, reported the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The small aquatic frogs were responsible for a nationwide Salmonella (salmonellosis) outbreak.

The frogs can now be sold in pet stores, carnivals, and online. They are shipped from California-based Blue Lobster Farms, the same frog breeding facility that was held responsible for the outbreak.

The company stopped shipping these frogs in April and shipment was reinitiated in June, said the CDC. It is still unclear if the frogs are Salmonella-free and reports of illness continue, reported the CDC.

241 individuals have contracted the illness as of Jun. 18, 2011. No fatalities have been reported. As children are more prone to the illness, most of the infected were young children, with a median age of 5 years old. Other groups at increased risk include pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and organ transplant recipients. According to the CDC, thirty percent of all patients were hospitalized.

Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps and symptoms present themselves within 72 hours of infections.

Most infected individuals do not need medical treatment but the severity of diarrhea may require hospitalization.

The CDC said that people handling African dwarf frogs should wash hands after contact and empty the tank outside of the home.