Since May 1, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has laboratory-confirmed 1,645 cases of cyclosporiasis in 34 states and has received more than 5,100 reports that will be reviewed, agency officials said at a briefing. The state of Michigan, which became the first hotspot for the spread of this intestinal infection and maintains more current statistics, has already confirmed more than 3,700 infections and 44 hospitalizations.
Cyclosporaosis in the United States is considered a seasonal disease during the spring and summer months, when people eat more fruits and vegetables. It is in the feces that may fall on them that the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis lives. When ingested, it causes so-called explosive and watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss in humans. Symptoms appear 1-2 weeks after infection.
This year, the United States has seen a sharp increase in cases, the cause of which has not yet been determined. As The Washington Post (WP) newspaper reported on Tuesday, July 14, citing sources, federal authorities and Michigan leaders are considering a version of the spread of infection through the Taco Bell fast food chain. The restaurant administration, in a comment to ABC News, emphasized that it was not officially notified of the investigation, but that it voluntarily stopped using “certain ingredients” in its dishes.
The CDC confirmed that at least the outbreaks in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky are related. The doctors added that they received information from colleagues in Michigan that cyclosporiasis could have spread through lettuce leaves and are checking this version. There have been no outbreaks outside of the United States at this time.
“Historically, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been associated with foreign travel, but in recent years we have seen an increase in cases associated with fruits and vegetables, both locally produced and imported,” Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC, said at a briefing.
The CDC emphasized that they are tracing contacts between sick people (the infection is not transmitted from person to person), and are also trying to sequence the genome of the disease through stool samples in order to more accurately determine its sources. The total number of confirmed hospitalizations across the country has exceeded one hundred.
Cyclosporiasis is treated with antibiotics for 7-10 days, rest and plenty of water. Doctors stressed that the current outbreak has not yet resulted in deaths, which are usually rare with this disease.
To reduce the risk of infection, experts recommend thoroughly washing your hands and fresh food under running water before eating, cutting or preparing. It is important to cook food to 158°F (70°C) or higher to kill the parasite.
If you have prolonged watery diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, fatigue or loss of appetite, the CDC urges you to contact your doctor and ask for a Cyclospora test. In addition, people with symptoms should not prepare food for others, doctors stressed.
