The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 843 confirmed cases and about 1,500 suspected cases.
WASHINGTON: A seasonal outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic illness, has spread across 31 U.S. states, with hundreds of confirmed infections and dozens of hospitalizations, according to federal and state health officials.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 843 confirmed cases and about 1,500 suspected cases have been reported since May.
The outbreak has led to 86 hospitalizations, though no deaths have been recorded. Health officials expect the number of cases to rise as investigations continue and additional reports are confirmed.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite typically transmitted through contaminated food or water. Fresh produce, including leafy greens, herbs, snow peas and raspberries, has previously been linked to outbreaks.
Symptoms generally develop about a week after exposure and include prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and loss of appetite.
Public health experts have expressed concern that recent reductions in funding for foodborne disease surveillance could make it more difficult to detect and trace outbreaks.
Barbara Kowalcyk, an associate professor at George Washington University’s Milken Institute of Public Health, said weakening surveillance systems makes it harder for officials to identify the full scope and source of foodborne illnesses.
State health departments have urged restaurants, commercial kitchens and consumers to thoroughly wash or cook high-risk produce. The Michigan Department of Health has advised food establishments in the state’s southeast region to take extra precautions while handling leafy greens and other fresh produce.
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One Southern California resident who recently recovered from cyclosporiasis described the illness as the worst she had ever experienced, saying she endured severe gastrointestinal symptoms, intense stomach pain and persistent vomiting that left her unable to eat normally for several days.
