Birmingham baby infected by family snake

Mar 28 2008

A BABY is believed to have caught salmonella from a pet snake at her Birmingham home.

Three-month-old Gabriella Vry was just 14 weeks old when she became ill and was diagnosed with the potentially fatal bacteria.

Her mother, Amanda Vry, from Castle Bromwich, said her daughter was so ill she feared she may die.

After researching the illness on the internet, Ms Vry discovered that the condition could have been caused by the family's pet, a Colombian Rainbow Boa called Reg.

She said she thought Gabriella's older brother may have touched Reg and then played with his sister.

Ms Vry warned other parents to be cautious when buying reptiles as family pets.

She said: "Yes, it is rare that she has caught this strain but she has caught it and I would hate another parent to go through what I have had to go through."

Ms Vry said Gabriella's temperature rose and she began crying in pain as the illness took hold.

"She just wanted to sleep," she said.

Gabriella is now recovering and the family is now looking for a new home for the snake.