CDC monitors ‘severe’ diarrhea-causing illness in US
Nina Gallegos
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring 145 cases of a parasitic illness, cyclosporiasis, in the United States that can cause severe diarrhea.
Cyclospora is a parasite acquired by ingesting contaminated fresh fruits and vegetables. The resulting illness, cyclosporiasis, is known for causing severe, sometimes “explosive,” diarrhea along with bloating and stomach cramps or pain.
As of June 16, 145 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in 17 states in the U.S. with no deaths reported, the CDC said. Forty-five of those cases were in people who ate or draink food or water that made them sick while traveling outside of the U.S.
According to a CDC map showing where the 145 people lived since May 1, 11-30 of them live in Texas. Most of them (31-80) live in New York.
According to the CDC, investigations are looking into potential sources of the illness.
Dr. Armando Meza, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, explained that cyclosporiasis develops after ingesting contaminated produce.
“It’s a parasite that you can get by ingesting contaminated products, including fresh fruits vegetables,” Dr. Meza said. “And this infection can be pretty severe in some patients.”
Symptoms typically include severe diarrhea, bloating and stomach cramps or pain. Dr. Meza advised seeking medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen.
He said, “if the diarrhea persists, or if at any time there is a blood or the or the fever is present, then you need to seek medical attention right away.”
Certain individuals face a higher risk of complications from cyclosporiasis.
Dr. Meza identified these groups, stating, “Any any individual with a chronic medical condition, diabetes. Any individual who’s taken medications to lower the immune system.” This includes people taking steroids or chemotherapy, or those with cancer.
The severe diarrhea caused by cyclosporiasis can lead to dangerous dehydration.
Dr. Meza highlighted the seriousness of this, explaining, “Diarrhea can make you very dehydrated and dehydration is a very severe condition that you cannot tolerate for very long. So the moment that your body fluids are emptied, you’re going to go into shock.”
Prevention is key to avoiding infection, focusing on food preparation and hygiene. Dr. Meza stressed the importance of cooking produce.
He said, “these vegetables and these fruits, unless they are cooked, that’s the only way that you can make sure that they are not with this parasite.”
He also emphasized cleaning fresh items, advising, “Carefully clean your products, your your vegetables, your fruits. If you can cook your food products, it’s better because that’s the way that you can actually get rid of these parasites.”
For treatment, most mild cases of diarrhea do not require medication and can be managed with supportive care. However, for more severe infections, antibiotics are available.
Dr. Meza stated, “Most of the time, you do not need any treatment, just supportive care. But if you do need treatment, there is antibiotics that can be provided in those antibiotics for weeks will take care of the infection.”
He cautioned against self-prescribing, adding, “You need to really have a diagnosis before antibiotic treatment is really needed.”
Dr. Meza noted that El Paso has not seen reported cases recently, as most cases are self-limited. He mentioned that spring and summer are times when people might deviate from their usual patterns, increasing the need for careful self-care.
The cyclosporiasis season is considered May 1-Aug. 31, which is when cases rise, the CDC said.
The CDC encourages healthcare providers and the public to inform local health departments about potential cases and clusters of the disease so appropriate action can be taken to prevent additional cases.
This is a developing story.