By now, you may have heard about a parasitic illness wreaking havoc on people’s stomachs across the country. The culprit? Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite that you definitely don’t want to consume.
The disease has been sickening people in at least 31 states, although the exact number of cases is likely underestimated, since people with diarrhea may attribute it to something else. States with some of the most cases reported have been Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. As Delish reports, the state of Michigan has been hit especially hard. As of July 9, the state had already recorded 1,251 cases and 44 hospitalizations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials haven’t determined that all of the illnesses are connected to a single outbreak, and investigators have not yet identified a specific food, grower, or supplier responsible.
Symptoms and Treatment
According to the CDC, people experience symptoms of cyclosporiasis about one week (ranging as soon as 2 days – 2 weeks or more) after consuming food or drinking water containing the parasite.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may include:
- Watery diarrhea (most common)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Less common symptoms may include:
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
- Other flu-like symptoms
A Cyclospora infection sometimes goes away on its own. But if you don’t treat it, your symptoms may last for a month or longer. This puts you at risk of severe dehydration and other complications. Some symptoms, such as diarrhea, may go away and then return. Other symptoms, such as fatigue, may continue after the gastrointestinal symptoms have stopped.
So unless you enjoy watery diarrhea, if you have been experiencing that, or a combination of these symptoms, it’s best to consult a doctor right away and get treated.
Foods To Approach With Extra Caution
Dr. Michael Cappello, a professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases) at the Yale School of Public Health, “You typically see the parasite in people who have ingested various fruits and vegetables. … Typically, they have been contaminated with human sewage or waste is sort of the generally accepted route of transmission.”
“And that’s why it’s very important with any fresh produce that you might purchase here in the United States, you really have to wash it well,” he added.
As the Huffington Post reports, although the source of the current outbreak remains unknown, Cyclospora has frequently been connected to fresh produce in the past, including lettuce, berries and herbs like cilantro and basil. “The one that we are most familiar with is raspberries, but there have also been outbreaks going back in the last decade or two that were traced to basil, cilantro, lettuce and especially some of the lettuce mixes that have been produced that come prepackaged,” Cappello explained.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat these items this summer, however. “We’ve had outbreaks linked to these kinds of products in the past,” said Dr. Donald W. Schaffner, a distinguished professor and extension specialist in food science at Rutgers University in New Jersey. “It doesn’t mean that those kinds of products will be a source in the future.”
Amid the rise in illnesses, some Taco Bell locations have reportedly posted signs saying they have temporarily stopped serving fresh ingredients, including lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro, and onions. The chain has not been identified as the source, and no illnesses have been publicly tied to its restaurants.
How To Lower Your Risk
Health officials recommend thoroughly rinsing produce under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking it. Bruised or damaged portions of the produce should be removed, and cut, peeled, or cooked produce should be refrigerated within two hours.
Produce with plenty of leaves, folds, or hard-to-reach crevices can be especially difficult to clean. Washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly can help reduce the risk, but it may not remove the parasite completely. Cooking produce is a more reliable way to kill it when that’s an option.
When buying lettuce, officials also suggest choosing whole heads over packaged mixes, then removing the outer leaves and washing the rest carefully. Smoother fruits and vegetables may be easier to clean than produce with lots of folds and crevices.
That, plus cooking produce whenever possible, can go a lot further than simply crossing your fingers.
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Photo Credit: Serg64 / Shutterstock.com
