SOMETHING'S FISHY: DANGER IN THE TANK

ANCHOR LEAD:
WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING PETS-THERE'S NO QUESTION, WE LOVE OUR 'FINNED FRIENDS..."
AN ESTIMATED 12 MILLION AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AQUARIUMS!
BUT SOMETHING ELSE MAY BE SWIMMING AROUND IN THAT TANK BESIDES YOUR FAVORITE FISHES...SOMETHING THAT COULD MAKE YOU VERY SICK.
____ ____ GIVES US A 'HEADS UP' ON A WARNING FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS.

SOT:
NO KEY (covered)Davis Galland, Aquarium owner
"I've got some neon tetras...I have black mollies..."

TRACK ONE Length: :05
TEN YEAR OLD DAVIS GALLAND IS CRAZY ABOUT HIS PET FISH.
HIS DAD'S A FISH FAN TOO.

SOT:
KEY@: :12 (Short)Bud Galland, Davis's Dad
"Davis has had an aquarium for about a year. It's something he can be responsible for.."

NATS: Length: :01
"It's really cool to watch em.."
(NATS pop, Davis preparing fish food)

TRACK TWO Length: :04
BUT 'COOL' AS IT IS - THERE COULD BE SOMETHING DANGEROUS LURKING INSIDE.

SOT:
KEY @: :24 Heather Bair-Brake, Veterinarian, CDC
"Salmonella is a bacteria that resides in the intestinal tract of animals."

TRACK THREE Length: :16
HEATHER BAIR-BRAKE IS WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL. SHE SAYS THE C-D-C HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS OF SALMONELLA INFECTION FROM REPTILE TERRARIUMS... AND WHILE THERE ARE NO U.S. CASES FROM FISH YET, AUSTRALIA RECENTLY REPORTED SEVERAL SERIOUS ENOUGH TO SEND CHILDREN TO THE HOSPITAL...

SOT:
KEY @: :43 Heather Bair-Brake, Veterinarian, CDC
"We're telling people that they should just take precautions when they're taking care of their fish and washing their tanks."

NATS Length: :01
"Pretty good, right?"

TRACK FOUR Length: :08
WHAT KIND OF PRECAUTIONS CAN YOU TAKE? THE C-D-C SAYS IT'S BEST TO WASH FISH TANKS, BOWLS, OR ACCESSORIES OUTSIDE.
BUT IF THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE...

SOT:
KEY @: :58 Heather Bair-Brake, Veterinarian, CDC
"Make sure that you clean the sinks and the counter tops with a mild bleach solution to get rid of any chance of germs."

NATS Length: :01
(nats, spraying disinfect)

TRACK FIVE Length: :05
ANOTHER SAFETY TIP: AFTER YOU'RE DONE SCRUBBING THE TANK AND EVERYTHING ELSE...SCRUB YOUR HANDS.

NATS Length: :02
(nats, Davis washing his hands)

SOT:
NO KEY (covered)Bud Galland, Davis's Dad
"We definitely wash our hands with soap and water when we get done..."

TRACK SIX Length: :07
Source: CDC
AND FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE FIVE---WHO TEND TO PUT THEIR FINGERS IN THE MOUTHS...YOU NEED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL... BECAUSE THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE NOT FULLY DEVELOPED.

SOT:
Key @: 1:23 Heather Bair-Brake, CDC
"Young children are particularly susceptible. It's very important that parents watch their children and make sure that they don't play around in the tank."

TRACK SEVEN Length: :06
ALL THESE TIPS WILL HELP KEEP THE FISH HEALTHY TOO.
FOR DAVIS AND HIS FAMILY, IT'S WORTH THE EXTRA ATTENTION.

SOT:
NO KEY (covered)Bud Galland, Davis's dad
"We all just really enjoy having an aquarium house. We probably are a little bit more careful..."

ANCHOR TAG
THE STRAIN OF SALMONELLA FOUND IN AUSTRALIA IS RESISTENT TO ANTIBIOTICS. RESEARCHERS AREN'T SURE. BUT THEY SPECULATE THAT THIS STRAIN OF SALMONELLA CAME FROM TROPICAL FISH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, WHICH EXPORTS MOST OF THE WORLD'S ORNAMENTAL FISH.

SOURCE INFORMATION

Heather Bair-Brake
Veterinarian, Health Education Coordinator
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1(404)639-3323
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, Ga.
30033

Extra background

Sources: Centers for Disease Control

March 2006 issue of "Emerging Infectious Diseases"
* Besides Australia, there have been isolated cases linked back to pet fish in Canada and Europe. But the number of cases is relatively small and widely scattered at this time.
* Most salmonella infections can lead to a few days of cramping, vomiting and diarrhea. But cases may become more severe for pregnant women, the elderly, and very young children.