Have you ever heard of cyclosporiasis? The parasitic infection linked to fresh produce, which can lead to weeks of watery diarrhea, is spreading rapidly, and cases have been reported in the Washington, D.C., region.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it’s tracking 17 states, with at least one confirmed case. The Virginia Department of Health on Tuesday reported 10 cases in the state, but said it’s not investigating any outbreaks.
In Michigan, nearly 1,000 cases have been reported. Normally, there are about 40 to 50 cases in that state each year.
Health departments for D.C. and Virginia told News4 there have been cases this year, but they’re not tracking any local outbreaks. News4 hasn’t heard back yet from Maryland health leaders.
What causes cyclosporiasis?
The illness is caused by something you can’t even see — a microscopic parasite — and fresh produce is almost always where it comes from. Previous outbreaks have been linked to raspberries, bagged lettuce or salad mixes and herbs like cilantro and basil.
“Cyclosporiasis is really a condition that you find when vegetables aren’t cleaned properly after being harvested,” said Dr. Fabian Sandoval, a clinical researcher with the ECRI Institute in D.C.
Local, state and federal health officials are investigating several clusters of cases, the CDC said.
“There is currently no evidence of a single, multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases. Rather, this is a surveillance count of cases across the United States,” the CDC said.
Health officials still haven’t been able to figure out what’s specifically causing this latest cluster of cases, but the good news is there have been zero deaths reported so far, and it doesn’t spread from person to person.
How do you protect yourself from cyclosporiasis?
Go to your fridge and make sure any produce has been washed.
“Vegetables should always be cleaned,” Sandoval said. “And that’s something sometimes people forget to do. They take them out of the packaging and they won’t clean them.”
Avoid drinking untreated water, and wash your hands frequently.
Is cyclosporiasis dangerous? Symptoms to watch for
The illness can cause some painful symptoms, from stomach cramps to what some describe as “explosive” diarrhea.
“It’s pretty severe because it can give you watery diarrhea, and it can dehydrate you if you don’t wash your vegetables accordingly,” Sandoval said. “[…] The diarrhea you’ll have can persist for at least a week if you aren’t careful and don’t take the proper antibiotics, which is a good thing, Joseph — antibiotics can get rid of this condition once you have it.”
Cyclosporiasis is usually not life-threatening, the CDC said.
Symptoms usually appear about a week after consuming contaminated food or water, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) said.
“Symptoms include watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Other symptoms can include extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, substantial weight loss, increased gas and bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may come and go and, if untreated, illness can last for a few days to a month or longer. Some infected persons may not have symptoms,” MDH said.
Illness can range from mild to severe, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and dehydration is a potential complication.
