A BABY was hospitalised after catching salmonella from an exotic pet reptile.

The two-month-old, from Widnes, was hospitalised, resulting in an investigation by environmental health officers.

They found a corn snake and a bearded dragon lizard living in the baby’s home were both carrying the deadly bacterium.

Without carefully cleaned cages, reptiles are prone to carry the bug and owners are advised to thoroughly hand-wash after touching them.

The baby is now recovering at home.

Last night, health chiefs said babies under 12 months, pregnant women and the elderly were particularly at risk from salmonella because of their weak immune systems.

Halton Council said better guidance for the public was crucial to prevent more similar cases.

It came nine years after a government information drive followed the death of a three-week-old baby in Kent.

Stephen Burrows, principal environmental health officer at Halton Council, said: “With an under-five, salmonella can be quite serious because the immune system is not fully developed.

“There is a national increase in salmonella cases linked to reptiles.

“At this age, the baby is either on formula or its mother’s milk, so we were obviously looking for something else. When we knew there were reptiles in the house, it was a line of inquiry.