CHICAGO (October 19, 2009)--A new report serves as a reminder that pet turtles can carry salmonella.

Researchers report a nationwide 2007-08 outbreak that sickened 107 people, mostly children, in 34 states, was the largest linked to pet turtles.

Illnesses from the same kind of salmonella turned up coast to coast through January 2008, including 12 people in California, 10 each in Pennsylvania and Texas, and nine in Illinois.

In many cases, parents didn't know that turtles can carry salmonella in feces, which can end up on their shells and bodies, and can spread to people who handle them.

Turtles involved were sold at pet shops, flea markets, from street vendors and online.

The report says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate.

Turtle sales were banned in 1975.

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there were almost 2 million pet turtles nationwide in 2006.