July 13 (Reuters) – Cases of an intestinal infection from the cyclospora parasite that causes diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms have risen steadily in recent months across the United States, with 31 states reporting infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Michigan on Monday reported 2,640 cases.
WHAT IS IT?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection that can be contracted by consuming food — typically raw fruits and vegetables — or water contaminated with feces, according to the CDC.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, with children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems facing a higher risk of serious illness. While cyclosporiasis is rarely life-threatening, untreated infections can persist for weeks and may lead to hospitalization, particularly because of dehydration. The U.S. has had previous outbreaks of the disease. Michigan, for instance, said it typically records 40 to 50 cases annually.
WHERE IS THE OUTBREAK?
The current U.S. outbreak, which began on May 1, is centered in Michigan, with Ohio and New York also reporting high numbers of cases. Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Texas have all reported 31 cases or more as of July 9, according to the CDC, which tallied confirmed cases at 843. It said 86 of those people had been hospitalized. The CDC figures lag because of delays in states reporting to the federal agency.
Case counts are expected to rise as the CDC receives more data, with delays between exposure and case confirmation potentially taking up to six weeks. Cases typically rise from May 1 through August 31, the CDC said.
Sick people ranged in age from 5 to 88 years, with a median age of 44, and 59% were female.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE?
The CDC and state health departments have not identified the source of the food contamination.
They and the FDA are tracing back from where ill people reported eating or purchasing food to points along the supply chain that can go back to the farm where an ingredient was grown. They may use genetic sequencing.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?
The parasite lives in contaminated food or water and is not commonly transmitted directly from person to person.
Michigan said past outbreaks were linked to bagged salad mixes and kits, fresh cilantro and basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions. It advised consumers to buy whole heads of lettuce and throw away outer leaves and to cook leafy greens and other items when possible.
Ohio advised people to wash their hands with soap and water before and after preparing raw fruit and vegetables, to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly and to scrub firm fruits and vegetables with a clean brush.
For people who have cyclosporiasis, the CDC recommends treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic commonly sold as Bactrim, taken twice daily for seven to 10 days. People living with HIV may require longer treatment, according to the agency.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole and Padmanabhan Ananthan in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer and Matthew Lewis)
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