At least 39 people across seven states have been sickened by a Campylobacter outbreak traced back to puppies sold at Petland, a national pet store chain.
The outbreak included 12 Petland employees and 27 people who either purchased puppies, visited them at a Petland store, or lived in a house with a purchased puppy, Fox News reported.
The CDC investigated the cases, which took place between September 2016 and September 1, 2017, in Florida, Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, Fox reported. Most of the cases were in Florida and Ohio, Newsweek reported.
Campylobacter spreads through contact with a dog’s feces but rarely spreads from person to person. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, young children and the elderly are most at risk.
Fox said choosing a puppy that is alert and playful with shiny or soft fur can help people avoid the infection. The CDC advised getting new puppies a checkup within a week of adoption or purchase. Puppies sickened by Campylobacter have similar symptoms to humans and can also have abnormal breathing, sluggishness, or loss of appetite.
Not all puppies will exhibit symptoms, Newsweek reported, so the CDC also advises careful handwashing when cleaning up dog feces. The illness usually begins two to five days after exposure and lasts a week.
Twitter users blamed puppy mills for the infections and advised adopting a pet from a shelter.
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