It includes 39 cases.
Several government agencies are investigating a multistate outbreak of human Campylobacter infections linked to puppies sold through Petland stores, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.
As of Sept. 11, the outbreak includes 39 cases in seven states: Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin. A list of the number of cases by state can be found on the Case Count Map page.
Investigators are looking for the source of infections in people and puppies so they can recommend how to stop the outbreak and prevent more illnesses in order to protect human and animal health, according to a press release from the CDC.
Investigating agencies include the Ohio Department of Health, several other states, CDC and USDA-APHIS.
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Illnesses began on dates ranging from Sept. 15, 2016, through Aug. 12, 2017. The most recent illness was reported on Sept. 1, 2017.
Ill people range in age from less than 1 year to 64 years, with a median age of 22 years; 28 (72 percent) are female; and nine (23 percent) report being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, according to CDC.
Epidemiologic and laboratory findings have linked the outbreak to contact with puppies sold through Petland stores, the CDC stated. Among the 39 ill people, 12 are Petland employees from four states and 27 either recently purchased a puppy at Petland, visited a Petland, or visited or live in a home with a puppy sold through Petland before illness began, according to the release.
Whole genome sequencing showed samples of Campylobacter isolated from the stool of puppies sold through Petland in Florida were closely related to Campylobacter isolated from the stool of an ill person in Ohio. Additional laboratory results from people and dogs are pending.
Regardless of where they are from, any puppies and dogs may carry Campylobacter germs, the CDC noted. Read Advice to Pet Owners and Advice to Pet Store Workers for illness prevention tips.
