Pet Store Puppies Tied to New Outbreak of Drug-Resistant Bacteria

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So far, the outbreak has sickened 30 people in 13 states.

Puppies resting in a dog bed.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Sure, that puppy in the window is cute, but the little furball might make you sick — puppies sold in pet stores have been linked with a new outbreak of a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection, according to health officials.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it is investigating an outbreak of Campylobacter — a type of bacteria that causes diarrhea — that is linked with pet store puppies.

The particular strain of Campylobacter causing this outbreak appears to be resistant to some commonly used antibiotics, the CDC said. 

Originally published on Live Science. 

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Rachael Rettner
Rachael Rettner
Contributor

Rachael is a Live Science contributor, and was a former channel editor and senior writer for Live Science between 2010 and 2022. She has a master's degree in journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She also holds a B.S. in molecular biology and an M.S. in biology from the University of California, San Diego. Her work has appeared in Scienceline, The Washington Post and Scientific American.