Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are warning about a salmonella outbreak in 33 states linked to pig ear treats for dogs.
According to the CDC, 127 people have been infected with outbreak strains of salmonella, and 26 people have been hospitalized. Twenty-four of the 127 cases have been in children younger than five years old. There have not been any deaths reported.
Several state health officials and the FDA have traced the outbreak to pig ear dog treats sold in pet stores across the country. No specific supplier of the treats has been identified yet, according to the CDC.
{mosads} The agency is advising people not to buy or feed any of the dog treats to pets, even if they have already been purchased. If a pet owner has purchased the treats, they should wash containers, shelves and other areas where the treats were kept with hot water and soap.
Pet owners who have fed their dog the treats can be on the lookout for their pets being tired, vomiting and having diarrhea or a fever. Children younger than five are advised not to touch or eat dog food treats.
Several companies and stores have recalled the pig ear products in case of contamination.
Early last month, the pet store giant Pet Supplies Plus recalled pig ears stocked in open bins. Lennox International Inc., which produces rawhide chews and other treats for pets, also recalled the products because they might be contaminated, according to the CDC.
The CDC is also investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry that has resulted in 768 infections and two deaths.