Cases of a parasitic illness continue to climb across the U.S., with infections now confirmed in 34 states — including nearly 100 cases in Florida.
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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of July 14, 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were reported among people in the United States, and more than 5,100 cases require further analysis to confirm domestically acquired cyclosporiasis. There have been 141 hospitalizations and no deaths. Sick people ranged in age from 2 to 95 years, with a median age of 44, and 56% were female.
Additionally, another 440 cases were reported among people who ate or drank food or water that made them sick while traveling outside the United States during the 14 days before they got sick. These cases were reported by 35 states.
How severe is cyclosporiasis?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, cyclosporiasis is treatable and not life-threatening; however, those with weaker immune systems may be more at risk of severe infection. Children and older adults may also experience severe symptoms.
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.
List of states with confirmed cases
As of July 10, the following states have confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, according to the CDC and local reporting.
Where are the cases of cyclosporiasis in Florida? See cases by county in Florida
There are 96 reported cases of cyclosporiasis in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health.
What is the origin of cyclosporiasis outbreak?
As of July 16, the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak remains unknown.
“Public health officials are interviewing people linked to this outbreak to find out what foods they ate before getting sick. A specific food item has not yet been confirmed as the source,” the CDC reported. “Investigators are collecting as much information as they can to solve this outbreak.”
What’s the treatment for cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which is sold as Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim, according to the CDC.
“If you are allergic to sulfa drugs, talk to your health care provider about other potential options,” the agency adds. “Resting and drinking plenty of fluids is also important for those experiencing diarrhea.”
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 it. Instead, washing hands at key times with soap and water can help prevent infections.
While the current groups of cases have not yet been linked to a single outbreak or common food item, health officials advised extra caution with foods implicated in past outbreaks. The following foods should be washed and scrubbed thoroughly with a brush or sponge.
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How severe is cyclosporiasis? See rising cases in US, Florida
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
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By Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
