A stomach-churning parasite that causes explosive, watery diarrhea has sickened over 140 people across multiple states — with the highest number of cases in New York.
According to the CDC, 145 people ranging in age from 5 to 86 years and from 20 states contracted the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis between May and June 16, with 20 hospitalized.
Fortunately, there have not yet been any deaths.
Since none of the patients had traveled recently, officials believe the cause is food — although they’re unsure of the exact source.
The cyclospora parasite causes cyclosporiasis, a type of food poisoning that leads to diarrhea, severe cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
This infection is usually contracted during travel outside the United States, as a result of consuming food or water that’s been contaminated with feces. It is more common in tropical areas.
None of the current US patients, however, reported taking any recent trips.
There’s also no evidence that it can be spread from human to human, leading the CDC to believe the patients became sick after eating food in the US.
“Local, state, and federal (CDC, FDA) public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases in more than one state. Investigations to identify potential sources are ongoing,” the agency reported.
Since there may be patients who haven’t been diagnosed, the actual number of cyclosporiasis cases is likely higher than initially reported — and it’s likely present in states besides those that have been reported.
In addition to New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., the current states with reported cases include Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, and Alaska.
Symptoms of the disease typically appear a week after infection, and mainly affect the intestines.
One of the main signs is explosive, watery diarrhea, but others may include loss of appetite, bloating, fatigue, low-grade fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
However, sometimes symptoms may not appear at all.
While a cyclosporiasis infection can go away on its own, symptoms can last for a month or longer if not treated, increasing the risk of dehydration.
Treatment is a course of antibiotics, typically trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also known under the brand names Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim.
In addition to avoiding food or water at risk of contamination, the CDC also recommends following food safety handling recommendations for safe preparation and storage.
While the risk of infection is highest when eating food in subtropical or tropical areas, generally outside the US, eating fresh, imported produce can also increase the chances.
Several veggies have been previously linked to cyclosporiasis cases in the US, such as cilantro, raspberries, sweet peas, mesclun lettuce, and basil, which was connected to a 2019 outbreak of the herb imported from Mexico.
A 2018 outbreak also infected nearly 400 people, thanks to tainted McDonald’s salads.
In this current outbreak, New York has the most cases, between 31 and 80, followed by Texas and Illinois experiencing between 11 and 30 cases.
