PUPPIES are making Americans sick: 30 people in 13 states have fallen ill with a drug-resistant infection from cuddling pets, CDC says
- The CDC says 30 people in 13 states have been diagnosed with drug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections
- The bacteria is most commonly found in puppies and is easily transferable to humans and causes diarrhea, cramping and fevers
- Four people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported
- 21 people said they’d come into contact with a puppy before being infected, 12 of which were at the national pet store chain Petland
Puppies’ big eyes, soft hair and pink tongues may look cute and cuddly – but federal health officials say they may also be linked to a multi-state superbug outbreak.
Thirty people across 13 states have been infected by a drug-resistant strain of Campylobacter jejuni linked to pet store pups, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday.
Four people have been hospitalized but no deaths have been reported.
Of the 24 sickened people who were interviewed by the CDC, 21 reported being in contact with a puppy – and 15 of them held dogs at pet stores.
The agency also reported that of those 15 people that visited a pet store, 12 visited the national pet store chain Petland, and five were employees.
The CDC says 30 people across 13 states have been sickened by a drug-resistant bacteria linked to pet store puppies (file image)
States with cases include Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming.
Illnesses occurred between January 6, 2019 and November 10, 2019 and occurred in people with ages ranging between eight months and 70 years old
The CDC says it believes more cases may be reported because ‘it takes [time] between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported.’
The agency added that lab evidence shows the bacteria in this outbreak is closely related to bacteria in a 2016-18 outbreak linked to pet store puppies.
That outbreak, which infected 113 people in 17 states and caused 23 hospitalizations, was declared over in January 2018.
Campylobacter is the most common bacteria passed on to humans from dog and cats that causes infections.
Symptoms appear two to five days after exposure and include diarrhea (often bloody), fever and stomach cramps.
While people with Campylobacter infections typically recover on their own, some need antibiotic treatment.
According to the CDC, the bacteria is the cause of 1.5 million infections annually and is the number one cause of bacterial diarrheal illnesses in the US
Health officials advise pet owners to take steps to stay healthy around their pet including washing hands after touching a puppy, after handling their food, and after cleaning up after them.
They also recommend that pet owners not let their dogs lick their mouths, faces, open wounds or any areas with broken skin.
As of Wednesday, a single, common supplier of puppies has not been identified by the CDC.
Petland released a statement on Monday said this specific strain did originate at a specific Petland store.
‘Upon receipt of relevant information, Petland will endeavor to determine the sources of infection, and will, in the meantime, remind all employees of the importance of sanitation and hygienic practices to keep people and pets safe,’ the statement read.
‘Petland takes the health and welfare of our employees, our customers and our pets very seriously. Since an earlier outbreak in 2016, in which no specific source of infection was identified, Petland has implemented all recommended protocols from federal and state animal and public health officials to prevent human and puppy illness.’