A multistate outbreak of Cyclosporiasis, also known as the ‘diarrhea-causing’ parasite, has sickened people in at least 17 states, including Florida, leaving many Jacksonville-area residents wondering whether any cases have been reported locally.
In Florida, between one and 10 cases have been reported. However, as of July 7, state and federal health officials have not said where those Florida infections occurred, so it’s unclear whether anyone in Jacksonville or Northeast Florida has been affected.
Nationwide, there’s been 145 cases reported between May 1 and June 16, including 20 involving hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent surveillance report.
Here’s what to know about the Cyclosporiasis outbreak, the symptoms to watch for, and what you can do to protect yourself.
What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is a disease that infects the small intestine and “usually causes watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC. It is transmitted via contaminated food or water, direct contact with infected livestock or pets, and person-to-person via the fecal-oral route.
According to the FDOH, cryptosporidiosis in Florida and the U.S. exhibits seasonal and cyclical patterns.
What are symptoms of cyclosporiasis?
Not all people infected with cyclosporiasis show symptoms, but in addition to diarrhea, it commonly causes:
Less common symptoms include vomiting, body aches, headache, low-grade fever and other flu-like symptoms.
The time between infection and becoming sick is typically about a week, but can be as short as two days or as long as two weeks. If left untreated, the illness can last over a month, and symptoms can clear before returning one or more times.
How many cases have been reported in Florida?
According to the CDC, Florida is one of the less-affected states by the outbreak, with only 1-10 affected individuals.
However, they note the true number of cases is likely higher because some recover without being tested and treated.
How to prevent cyclosporiasis
According to the FDOH, the two main ways to prevent cyclosporiasis are to practice good hygiene and avoid contaminated food and drinks.
They note alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against Crypto. Instead, washing hands at key times with soap and water can help prevent infections.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Any ‘diarrhea-causing’ parasite cases in Jacksonville?
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea and Samantha Neely, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Doris Alvarez Cea and Samantha Neely, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
