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Health officials warn of cyclosporiasis outbreak; CDC reports about 2,000 cases, 30 in Connecticut
Summary
Health officials are warning of a cyclosporiasis outbreak this year, with about 2,000 infections nationwide and 30 in Connecticut; officials and a state senator urged careful washing of fresh produce while investigators work to find the source, Fox 61 reported.
Health officials are warning about an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, saying about 2,000 people nationwide have been infected this year, including 30 in Connecticut, Fox 61 reporter Celine Eareff said.
Public health officials have linked recent cases to fresh produce, including raspberries, lettuce and cilantro, and said investigators are working to identify the source of the cluster. ‘‘We can expect the total number of infections to keep rising,’’ Eareff said, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The illness can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms. ‘‘Explosive diarrhea, a loss of appetite, stomach issues, and nausea, and even some weight loss,’’ Eareff said, summarizing the symptoms health officials described. She added that symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to about a month or longer if left untreated. Health officials told Fox 61 that the recommended treatment is antibiotics and that diagnosis is by stool test.
‘‘Contaminated food that you touch with your hands and you eat and it's not being cleaned, it's not been washed, and you've not washed your hands, that is actually how you get it,’’ said State Senator and physician Sawood Anwar, who advised thoroughly washing leafy vegetables under running water and drying them before eating.
Several local residents said the outbreak has changed how they shop. ‘‘I think it's scary,’’ said Adriana Belito, who told the reporter she has been eating frozen fruit to avoid fresh produce. William Oksana said consumers expect products to be clean and argued the responsibility for preventing contamination should rest with food producers.
Officials have not identified a single source for the recent cluster, and public health agencies are continuing their investigation. Fox 61 reported that the CDC is monitoring the situation and that consumers should wash produce carefully as a risk-reduction measure. ‘‘In West Hartford, Celine Eareff, Fox 61,’’ the report concluded.
The CDC and state health departments are continuing case investigations; health officials recommend anyone with severe or prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms contact a health care provider for testing and treatment.
