Pet Store Puppies Linked To Drug-Resistant Illness In Maryland

MARYLAND — An infection linked to pet store puppies — particularly puppies from national chain Petland — has sickened 30 people across the United States, including one person in Maryland, authorities said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as public health officials in several states, are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections linked to puppies purchased from pet stores.

"Campylobacter bacteria isolated from clinical samples from ill people in this outbreak are resistant to commonly recommended, first-line antibiotics," the CDC said.

Centers for Disease ControlLab evidence suggests that the bacteria in this outbreak are genetically related to bacteria in a 2016–2018 outbreak in which puppies purchased from Petland stores were linked to drug-resistant infections.

Four hospitalizations have been reported in the latest outbreak, and no deaths have occurred.

Among 24 people interviewed so far by the CDC:

• 21 (88 percent) of the 24 people reported contact with a puppy.
• 15 (71 percent) of these 21 people reported contact with a puppy from a pet store.
• 12 (80 percent) of these 15 people were linked to national pet store chain Petland .
• 5 (42 percent) of these 12 people were Petland employees.

"Petland takes the health and welfare of our employees, our customers and our pets very seriously," the company said in a statement to Patch. "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."

"The CDC did not have any direct recommendations today regarding steps to keep puppies from exposure to this bacteria and recommended that Petland seek assistance from animal health officials," Petland added. "Therefore, Petland urges state and federal animal health officials and veterinary experts to determine protocols aimed at finding the source of infection, establishing a case definition for puppies, and recommending valid testing procedures and treatment options for puppies that test positive, including those that are asymptomatic."

The CDC has provided the following advice for pet owners:

• Adults should supervise hand-washing for young children.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer until you are able to wash your hands with soap and water.
• Wash your hands after cleaning up urine, feces or vomit from your puppy or dog. Clean up any urine, feces or vomit inside the house immediately. Then disinfect the area using a solution of water and bleach.
• Don't let dogs lick around your mouth and face.
• Don't let dogs lick your open wound or areas with broken skin.
• Take your dog to the veterinarian regularly to keep it healthy and to help prevent the spread of disease.

Symptoms of Campylobacter Infection in People

• Most people infected with Campylobacter infection develop diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps 2 to 5 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
• The illness usually lasts about a week and most people recover without antibiotic treatment.
• Antibiotics are needed only for patients who are very ill or at high risk for severe disease, such as people with severely weakened immune systems