I have been handling reptiles since the 70's and have never gotten sick. However it is a possiblity. salmonella is a common gut bacteria in reptiles. the biggest worry is with iguanas and aquatic turtles. their cages stay warm and moist, perfect for bacteria to multiply. iguana food bowls will stay damp with veggies and warm.... common sense and washing your hands after handling and you should be just fine. my kids help me a lot also and have never been sick. snake cages are generally kept nice and dry to prevent skin problems. as long as the cage is relatively dry, bacteria won't be able to grow. you can buy a bottle of hand sanitizer to kill germs after handling reptiles and you should be fine.