Puppies the ‘likely source’ of infection outbreak causing diarrhea and severe stomach cramps
PUPPIES are the 'likely source' of an infection outbreak causing diarrhea and severe stomach cramps across the United States.
At least 30 people have been struck down by a drug-resistant bacteria, known as Campylobacter, stemming from innocent looking pooches.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a warning on Wednesday detailing the multi-drug resistant infections linked to pets store pups.
The ages of those infected by Campylobacter, the identified bacteria, ranged from 8 months to 70 years and four have been hospitalized so far.
Campylobacter jejuni made people ill across 13 states: Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wyoming.
According to the report: "Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicate that puppies purchased from pet stores are the likely source of this outbreak.
"Many of the cases had contact with puppies or were employees at pet stores, including Petland."
However, a common supplier of puppies has yet to be identified as the CDC continues to investigate.
The recorded illnesses were dated as early as January 6, 2019 until November 10, 2019.
Symptoms range from diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps - which can start as early as two days after exposure to the bacteria.
An estimated 1.5 million illnesses arise from Campylobacter each year in the US, according to the CDC.
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The infection is usually obtained by eating raw or uncooked poultry, seafood, meat, produce, by drinking untreated water - and contact with animals.
People with the illness can recover within a week and don't need antibiotics unless they suffer from a weakened immune system .
To prevent picking up this bacteria, the CDC recommends people wash their hands with soap and water after handling puppies, refrain from letting dogs lick on or around their faces, and take new puppies to a veterinarian for a routine check-up.
