WASHINGTON — They're cute but potentially deadly. Tiny pet
turtles, some of them the size of a quarter, are to blame for
six ongoing salmonella outbreaks that have sickened nearly 200
people and counting — mostly children. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) banned the sale of turtles with shells less
than four inches long in 1975, an attempt to keep them away from
kids back when small pet turtles were all the rage. The agency
found that kids couldn't resist kissing the toy-like reptiles or
placing them in their mouths, sometimes contaminating themselves
with the salmonella commonly found on turtles. Turtle-related
illnesses dropped sharply after the ban took effect. But as the
current outbreaks demonstrate, they're back. Illnesses have been
reported in 30 states since last year, according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A thriving black
market keeps churning out the small pets, which are often raised
on turtle farms and sold at flea markets, on the Web or in
stores. In Maryland, a