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Thirty-nine people caught the bacterial infection from puppies
STATES CHRONICLE – A recent outbreak of intestinal infection has hit seven states in the US, after 39 people contracted Campylobacter bacteria. As the investigations indicated, the ones to blame for the infection might be the puppies sold at a pet store chain. CDC will continue the investigation, and search for the exact cause of this infection.
Petland puppies infected with Campylobacter
Thirty-nine people from the US have recently started experiencing symptoms similar to the ones produced by Campylobacter. These include pain in the abdominal area, diarrhea, and fever and, in some severe cases, the victim might die. There are around 1.3 million people who contract the infection yearly, and even dogs might be vulnerable to it.
From the 39 people who fell sick, reports showed 12 of them worked at the pet store chain Petland. The other people had either bought puppies from the pet store in question, or had been around someone who had. The most affected state was Ohio, with 18 cases, and the other states are Tennessee, Wisconsin, Florida, Missouri, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. Fortunately, no one died, but nine of the victims ended up in the hospital.
The infection is not that dangerous, but you should still be careful
Puppies are more vulnerable that adult dogs, and this is why it was easier for them to catch the infection. However, even big dogs can host the bacteria while appearing perfectly healthy. Although it might not affect them, it can still be transmitted through their feces.
CDC issued some guidelines so that people could avoid catching the infection from their puppies. They should always wash their hands thoroughly after touching their pets, or the food they eat. Also, if people have to pick up their feces and throw them away, they should wear protective gloves. Fortunately, the infection is not so dangerous. Usually, the symptoms go away by themselves. If they don’t, however, go see a doctor immediately.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
