Kansas is one of several states experiencing an outbreak of bacterial infections linked to puppies sold at Petland stores. So far, five cases in Kansas have been reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are now 39 confirmed cases in 7 states of human Campylobacter infections. The bacteria can cause diarrhea, cramping and fever, and can be spread through contact with animal stool.
The CDC says puppies sold at Petland, an national chain of pet stores, are the likely source of the outbreak, but it’s still under investigation.
Of the 39 people with confirmed Campylobacter infections, 12 worked at Petland. The other 27 people had either recently purchased a puppy from Petland, visited a store, or had come into contact with a Petland puppy. Nine were hospitalized, but the CDC says no deaths have been reported.
The Ohio-based company says in a statement that it is working with the CDC in the investigation. Petland says the CDC hasn’t found any failures on the company’s part that could lead to any infection.
--Follow Nadya Faulx on Twitter @NadyaFaulx.
To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.
Copyright 2017 KMUW | NPR for Wichita
