[ad_1]
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) – Puppies can be cute and cuddly, but they also carry germs that could make you very sick, according to a new government report.
An epidemic of antibiotic resistance Campylobacter Infections in 2017 and 2018 that sickened 118 people in 18 states were attributed to pet puppies, according to the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
"This is most likely the visible part of the iceberg," said researcher Dr. Mark Laughlin, a veterinary science officer at the CDC.
Of the patients affected by the bacteria, 26 were hospitalized. Of those who became ill, 29 were pet shop employees. It is likely that many others were sick, but not sick enough to go to the doctor, or the doctors did not report a case, Laughlin added.
Campylobacter is not a rare bacterium. In fact, according to the CDC, it causes 1.3 million diarrheal diseases each year in the United States.
"People get most often Campylobacter after eating undercooked chicken, "said Laughlin. They can also get it from contaminated water and raw milk.
But it is rare for an epidemic of Campylobacter occurs, "and rarely is it associated with contact with pets," Laughlin said.
This outbreak was also unique because the bacteria was resistant to the antibiotics usually used to treat it, he explained.
According to Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, most people with Campylobacter are not treated with antibiotics.
The reason antibiotics are not generally used is because they kill bacteria but release the toxins that the bacteria carries, and it is the toxins that cause most of the symptoms, says Siegel.
Usually people get better without treatment, he noted. "One of the most common symptoms is bloody diarrhea," Siegel said. Other symptoms include headache, muscle aches and fever. The illness usually lasts about a week and then disappears.
Campylobacter usually spreads from excrement, he said. It's common in chickens because of how high they are – all piled together.
It is possible that the same thing happens in puppies from puppy mills and pet shops, where the animals are in close contact with each other, suggested Siegel.
According to Laughlin, the outbreak was limited to pet dogs. "These dogs are up close with lots of opportunities to mix and mix, so there is a lot of opportunity for sprouting among these dogs," he added.
Siegel said that because people have prevented him from coming into contact with feces, or other places where bacteria live, then touching their mouth, transmitting a person's infection to another does not usually happen.
He explained that your dog may be infected with Campylobacter and not be sick, but he can still carry the germ.
Laughlin suggested that the best way to avoid getting sick after petting or playing with a dog is to wash your hands with soap and water. This is especially important after picking up dog poop, he added.
Because young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill CampylobacterHand washing is especially important, Laughlin said.
Siegel said that all dogs do not wear Campylobacter. "But it reminds people that your pet may have a bacterium that can make you sick," he added.
The report was released on September 21 in the CDC Weekly report on morbidity and mortality.
More information
For more on Campylobactervisit the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
SOURCES: Mark Laughlin, DVM, Veterinary Scientific Officer, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Marc Siegel, MD, professor of medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; September 21, 2018 Weekly report on morbidity and mortality
[ad_2]Source link
