A stomach illness caused by a parasite has spread to 34 states, including Arizona, with the CDC counting 1,645 cases since May 1 and 141 hospitalizations.
Arizona health officials have now reported 19 confirmed infections so far this year.
Experts say the true number of cases is likely higher than what has been confirmed and will continue to climb.
The illness, cyclosporiasis, is linked to contaminated food or water. Health officials say the exact source of the current outbreak has not been identified.
According to the CDC, the parasite spreads through contaminated food or water — not person to person.
Symptoms include “explosive and watery diarrhea” cramping, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and low-grade fever, and can appear between two days and two weeks after exposure.
According to reports across other states, the source of the contamination is what’s at question making it more difficult to focus in on the cause.
Some have reportedly raised concerns about recent changes to tracking pathogens, specifically through FoodNet a program involving the CDC, 10 state health departments, the USDA, and the FDA. But under the current administration and beginning last July, reporting data for most pathogens tracked by FoodNet became optional.
Cyclospora was among the pathogens affected by that change leaving state and county health departments as the primary investigators in outbreak cases.
“Cyclospora is a very interesting organism. It’s a parasite, so it’s historically been linked to outbreaks in the past, usually foodborne outbreaks,” said Dr. Nuwan Gunawardhana, a hospital epidemiologist and physician who specializes in infectious diseases at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
“It’s not really considered contagious from person to person,” he said. “When we’re talking about foodborne outbreaks with cyclospora, it’s a very hardy organism, and so it has the ability to adhere to the surfaces very, very well with our fresh produce and fruit.”
What to avoid and how to protect yourself
To better protect yourself, wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Also, wash your hands with soap and water before handling produce or any food, as standard hand sanitizer does not kill this parasite.
When shopping for lettuce or other greens, experts recommend avoiding precut or packaged items and selecting whole, uncut produce instead, because it typically undergoes less handling.
Bagged salad mixes and kits have been specifically linked to previous cyclospora outbreaks in the United States and Canada, according to Michigan health officials.
Reportedly, on Tuesday, fast food chain Taco Bell also said it’s removing some ingredients from its menu at some locations as a precaution.
“It’s probably a good idea to avoid bagged lettuce products and bagged salad products for now. And if those are desired, then to rewash them at home, even if they come prewashed, because the actual source of the outbreak is not yet known,” said Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Barouch said.
Raspberries, basil, salad mixes — like vegetable trays and coleslaw — cilantro, berry and fruit mixes, lettuce and snap peas have all been linked to outbreaks in the past.
If you feel you may have the stomach illness, ask for specific testing as standard and routine stool testing does not include cyclospora.
