Cases of a gastrointestinal illness stemming from a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea surpassed 1,000 in the United States, with Illinois health officials reporting more than 140 cases statewide.
Cyclosporiasis has sickened hundreds across more than 18 states since May 1, with numbers nearing 1,000 in Michigan as the state deals with a cluster of infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and CBS News.
Additional state-level reporting shows a bigger surge of cases not yet reflected on the CDC surveillance dashboard, which is updated monthly. The latest data, published June 16, has yet to catch up with the rapidly evolving spread.
Currently, there is no evidence of a single, multistate outbreak linking all cases. Local and federal authorities are still working to identify a potential source of illness for illness clusters, like those in Michigan; however, many cases thus far appear to be part of a seasonal surge.
The CDC considers annual cyclosporiasis surges to run from May 1 to Aug. 31. Here’s what we know about cases in Illinois.
What are the symptoms of Cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite often found on produce or in water, according to the CDC.
Though not life-threatening, the illness usually causes watery, frequent and sometimes “explosive” diarrhea that can last over a month if left untreated.
Other symptoms mirror those often associated with food poisoning, according to the Cleveland Clinic, including the following:
Symptoms can also go away and come back multiple times.
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How many Cyclosporiasis cases in Illinois?
Illinois had 141 reported cases of Cyclosporiasis as of July 7, the public health department told USA TODAY, 59 of which were acquired locally and 20 of which are awaiting investigation.
“IDPH is seeing a higher-than-average number of reported cases of Cyclosporiasis, consistent with what is being seen in several other states,” spokesperson Matthew Mata said. “At this point, no single source or cause of this increase has been identified, and there is no evidence of a large outbreak accounting for all or most of these cases. IDPH continues to work with the CDC and other public health partners to look for trends.”
Illinois reported the fifth-most cases in the U.S. as of July 7, falling behind Michigan, New York, Ohio and North Carolina.
List of states with confirmed cases
As of Tuesday, July 7, the following states have confirmed cases of Cyclosporiasis, according to the CDC and local reporting.
Which foods have been linked to past outbreaks?
While the current groups of cases have not yet been linked to a singular outbreak or common food item, health officials advised extra caution with foods that have been behind past outbreaks. The following foods should be washed and scrubbed thoroughly with a brush or sponge:
How to prevent spread of Cyclosporiasis
State health departments have issued guidance for avoiding the spread of Cyclosporiasis, which often occurs in the summer due to contaminated, unwashed produce.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois warns of ‘explosive’ diarrhea illness as cases top 100
Reporting by Hannah Hudnall and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Hannah Hudnall and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
