In a follow-up on the multistate outbreak of Campylobacter infections linked to puppies sold through Petland, a national pet store chain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting an additional 16 cases, bringing the outbreak total to 55 in a dozen states-Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Thirteen people required hospitalization for their illness and no deaths have been reported.

A breakdown of the cases reveals:

  • 14 people are Petland employees from 5 states.
  • 35 people 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.
  • 1 person had sexual contact with a person with a confirmed illness linked to Petland.
  • 4 people were exposed to puppies from various sources.
  • 1 person had unknown puppy exposure.

Petland is cooperating with public health and animal health officials to address this outbreak.

Clinical samples from people and puppies sickened in this outbreak appear to be resistant to commonly recommended, first-line antibiotics. This means infections with the outbreak strain may not respond well to oral antibiotics usually prescribed to treat Campylobacter infections.

Analysis suggests that all 13 isolates are resistant to azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, and telithromycin. In addition, 9 isolates appear resistant to gentamicin, and 12 isolates appear resistant to tetracycline.

Most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within two to five days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts about one week. Some infected persons do not have any symptoms. In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a serious life-threatening infection.

This investigation is ongoing.

Campy map