As of early October 2017, at least 55 people have been stricken by campylobacteriosis in 12 states. Caused by the bacteria Campylobacter, authorities have traced this outbreak to puppies distributed and sold through Petland, a pet store chain. Thirteen of those people have had to be hospitalized.
Campylobacter is commonly found in the gut of normal dogs, but sometimes a pathogenic strain will appear, which can cause intestinal illness in dogs and also spread to humans.
Humans infected with Campylobacter, which they get by contacting contaminated stool from an infected puppy, can develop symptoms beginning anywhere from 1-3 days after exposure. These can include:
People are usually sick for up to 5 days, and the illness can be quite serious and even life-threatening in some instances.
Regarding the current outbreak, at the time of this writing in mid-October, 2017, the following is known or believed by authorities:
Puppies and dogs can carry Campylobacter and other bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are transmittable to humans. The following advice should be adhered to in order to decrease your chances of contracting any of these from your dog:
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