Not Medical Advice: It is just a myth that turtle urine causes brain damage in humans when it comes in contact with your skin. It is said to be medically incorrect.
However, turtles pose a high risk of spreading disease, especially to children. U.S. health officials found that illegal small turtles caused 15 outbreaks of Salmonella in the United States over the past decade. Half of the cases were in children under 10.
As per CDC, all turtles can carry and transmit salmonella on their skin and shells.
Certain behaviors were likely to lead to infection. Among those behaviors: Kissing turtles, letting them roam on kitchen countertops and tabletops where food and drink is prepared or consumed, and cleaning turtle habitats in kitchen sinks.
Here's what can be done to prevent turtle-associated salmonellosis shared by CDC.gov.