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Campylobacter jejuni causes more than 1 million cases of diarrheal illness annually in the U.S. Starting in August 2017, the Florida Department of Health identified six C. jejuni infections linked to a local pet store that was part of a national chain based in Ohio. Using whole-genome sequencing, the CDC determined that the six isolates were linked to an isolate from a pet store customer in Ohio. By February 28, 2018, a total of 118 C. jejuni cases were identified in 18 states (median age, 26 years; 63% female; 25% employees in 6 pet stores). Outbreak isolates were resistant to all antibiotics commonly used to treat patients with Campylobacter infections.
Of 149 puppies that were investigated, 95% had received antibiotics during distribution…