The stomach-churning cyclospora bug — which can cause explosive diarrhea and is running rampant in the nation — is infecting more people in Palm Beach County.
There are 22 cyclosporiasis cases in the county since the start of its latest outbreak on May 1, according to the Florida Department of Health’s Aug. 8 update. Six of those cases were reported in the week leading up to the update.
The people with cyclosporiasis in Palm Beach County are 15 years of age or older. Eight of them became infected in Florida, six became infected outside of the U.S. and the source of the other eight cases is unknown. Fourteen cases were reported in July, two were reported in June and six were reported in August.
Starting in May, 407 people reported cases in Florida, with Miami-Dade County reporting the most with 53 cases. There were nearly 13,900 confirmed cases across the nation, and more than 10,400 additional cases that were reported but have not yet been confirmed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State health officials in Michigan said two people in the state died from the illness. There have been 740 hospitalizations in the U.S.
“We tend to see more cases during the warmer months because this is when fresh produce consumption increases and many of the fruits and vegetables associated with cyclospora are widely available,” wrote Dr. Kami Kim, a professor of medicine at the University of South Florida, in a prepared statement.
“While most people won’t become ill, it’s important to recognize the symptoms and seek medical care if diarrhea is severe or persists.”
What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by the cyclospora parasite, and the parasite isn’t exclusive to lettuce. People can become infected by consuming contaminated fruits and vegetables or water. It is not typically spread from person to person.
Symptoms can begin anytime from two days to two weeks or more after exposure, according to the CDC. Past outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to raspberries, cabbage, basil, cilantro, parsley, broccoli, snow peas, sugar snap peas and leafy greens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The most common symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Less common symptoms include low-grade fever and vomiting, according to the CDC. Some people may not have any symptoms.
Most healthy people make a full recovery, but children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to complications.
Where and which foods is the cyclospora outbreak coming from?
According to investigations by the Food and Drug Administration, the CDC and state health officials, the latest outbreak has been linked to Taylor Farms, which issued a voluntary recall on July 17 of iceberg lettuce products from Taylor Farms de Mexico.
That lettuce was sold to Taco Bell locations in 13 states, as well as to retail stores, restaurants and food-service customers.
The recall includes Marketside-brand products sold at Walmart described as “Iceberg Salad 12-oz or 24-oz” and “Shredded Lettuce 8-oz or 16-oz” with best-by dates of July 18 to Aug. 3, according to the FDA.
Some of the recalled Marketside products were sold at Walmart stores in Florida. Walmart pulled 12-ounce and 24-ounce bags of “Marketside Bagged Iceberg Salad” and 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of “Marketside Bagged Shredded Iceberg Salad.”
“The health and safety of our customers is a top priority,” wrote a Walmart spokesperson in a prepared statement. “Although there is no indication that products sold in our stores are affected by the current Cyclospora investigations, we have removed four bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from select locations as a precaution after receiving notice from our supplier.”
There were no confirmed illnesses among people who ate the Marketside salad as of July 28, the spokesperson said. Walmart instructs people who purchased the bagged iceberg lettuce salads to discard them or return them for a full refund.
Other grocery store chains with locations in Palm Beach County sell Taylor Farms products, but were not explicitly listed in the FDA’s report to have sold any of the recalled products. These include Publix, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, The Fresh Market, Winn-Dixie and Target.
Federal health officials are still trying to find the source of smaller case clusters.
What states have the cyclospora outbreak?
Cyclosporiasis has spread to 48 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The only states that haven’t reported cases include Hawaii and New Mexico, according to a CDC map.
How to avoid cyclospora?
Don’t eat food connected with it.
Avoid foods linked to outbreaks and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking it.
The CDC also recommends cooking produce to reach a temperature of at least 158 degrees. Washing alone cannot guarantee the removal of the parasite.
What leafy greens and fruits are safer to eat right now?
The safest leafy greens to eat right now are spinach, kale and arugula as long as they are not pre-packaged, according to Dr. Leslie Diaz, an infectious disease specialist at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.
The safer fruits to eat are those with coverings like bananas and melons, she said. Diaz suggests avoiding strawberries and raspberries.
When will the cyclospora outbreak be over?
Diaz predicts that the sources of the cyclospora outbreak will be discovered within the next couple of months. And if not, cyclospora is usually seasonal.
“The spring and the summer have the highest cases that we have seen in the past,” Diaz said. “Hopefully (when) we’ve gone through those seasons, the cases would die down even if we are lucky enough to identify the source or not.”
Maya Washburn is a Trending News Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Cyclospora cases rise in Palm Beach County. What are safer vegetables?
Reporting by Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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By Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
