Puppies to blame for outbreak of drug-resistent infection in at least 118 people from 18 states

By Rodolfo Vieira

Sep 28, 2018

11:27 A.M.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blamed puppies for drug-resistant infection that affected 118 people in 18 states.

Roundworm is considered to be one of the most common diseases that humans can get from dogs and every year around 10,000 cases are reported.

According to the CDC, dogs and puppies can transmit the Campylobacter infections, with symptoms that range from diarrhea to fever.

Other symptoms include cramping and abdominal pain, but in the worst cases, those symptoms can go from paralysis to death.

Although 118 people were infected, only 26 were hospitalized, and samples of the bacteria collected from patients revealed that antibiotics commonly used to treat Campylobacter infections were ineffective.

MAIN TARGETS OF THE INFECTION

According to the source, most patients recover from the infection on their own without treatment within five days, and drinking extra fluids is recommended to accelerate the process.

Those with a compromised or weakened immune system, such children, elderly people and those with cancer and other severe illnesses, should be extra careful because they are the ones with the highest risk of infection.

THE STATISTICS

All 118 people, whose ages ranged from younger than on1 to 85, fell ill between January 5, 2016, and February 4, 2018, with 63% being female.

The states that reported the illness were Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

RESPONSIBILITY IS KEY

The CDC claims that every store is responsible for consulting licensed veterinarians who must examine each of the puppies and recommend a medical treatment if necessary.

Although adorable, animals should be handled with care because they can transmit unexpected diseases. Greg Manteufel, from West Bend, Wisconsin, learned that the hard way after losing his four limbs due to being licked by his dog.

Manteufel contracted a particularly rare and life-threatening blood infection that forced doctors to amputate part of his arms and legs in order to save his life, but he claimed that he didn't blame the dog and still loved him.