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Health committee hears how cyclosporiasis spreads and what parents should do before school starts
Summary
A state epidemiology nurse told the City of Charleston advisory committee that cyclosporiasis is typically travel- or food-related, that person-to-person spread is unlikely, and that schools should verify updated vaccine requirements, including a new varicella dosing expectation for seniors.
Mylinda Quinn, a nurse with the South Carolina Department of Health's epidemiology team, told the City of Charleston Health and Wellness Advisory Committee that cyclosporiasis is "a diarrheal disease caused by a parasite that's not commonly found here" and that most local cases are tied to travel or foods from other areas.
Quinn said the county averages roughly 50 cases a year and that the parasite requires one to two weeks in the environment to become infectious, making person-to-person transmission unlikely. She described the standard investigative steps: asking patients about symptoms, travel, attendance at large gatherings and detailed food histories, noting the state's reportable-disease system receives many results electronically via ELR and also accepts manual entries.
Quinn urged careful handling of fresh produce: "Washing your fruits and vegetables prior to peeling them and or eating them" reduces risk, she said, and advised against swimming in recreational water while symptomatic because stool can contaminate water. During questions she recommended that otherwise healthy people who are mildly ill monitor hydration and seek medical care within several days if symptoms worsen or if dehydration or severe vomiting occur.
Quinn also reviewed back-to-school vaccine changes for the coming year, saying, "the major change for this school year, our 12th graders should should be have both doses of the varicella vaccine." She said schools should focus checks on incoming students and seniors who might not have updated records. Quinn provided the committee with links to the state DPH dashboard and CDC resources for case counts and guidance.
