EVANSVILLE – Vanderburgh County saw only a modest jump in lettuce-linked stomach illnesses last week. But Indiana as a whole watched its numbers surge yet again.
The state reported 1,349 confirmed cases of cyclosporaiasis on Monday, according to data from the Indiana Department of Health. That’s up from the 954 as of July 28 – a 41% increase in six days. It comes on the heels of a 60% leap the previous week.
Luckily, only a couple of those came out of Vanderburgh County. Evansville has tallied only two additional cases of the illness, inching up from eight on July 28 to 10 on Monday.
The actual number of cases is probably much higher, though.
Last month, Vanderburgh County health officer Dr. Jason Bredenkamp told the Courier & Press some people who come down with stomach problems likely wouldn’t seek medical attention, keeping their cases from joining the official numbers. And even those who do go to the doctor won’t always get tested. Bredenkamp said providers usually would order lab work for only the most vulnerable patients, such as the elderly, infants or the immunocompromised.
Which Indiana county has the most cyclospora illnesses?
A prevailing fear of lettuce has gripped large swaths of the U.S. since early May, when the first cyclosporiasis cases emerged. They’re coming from the parasite cyclospora, which attached itself to batches of tainted lettuce and can cause severe diarrhea.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration linked the outbreak to supplier Taylor Farms, which provided lettuce to Taco Bell locations across the Midwest. Taco Bell has since ceased using Taylor Farm products, and the supplier itself issued recalls.
Nevertheless, the numbers have continued to climb.
As of Monday, the most riddled locale in Indiana by far was Allen County, which has experienced 290 cases. That’s up from 178 on July 28: a nearly 63% percent jump. The closest competitors were Marion County with 108 and Steuben County with 92.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Indiana sees another big jump in lettuce-linked stomach illnesses
Reporting by Jon Webb, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jon Webb, Evansville Courier & Press | USA TODAY Network
