A multistate cyclospora outbreak, first recognized in Michigan, is raising concerns as health officials work to identify the source of illnesses likely linked to fresh produce. The foodborne parasite has been associated with imported fruits and vegetables over the years, including berries, cilantro, basil and lettuce. Current investigations have focused on lettuce and packaged salad greens as a potential source of infection.
"It's really hard to trace back and figure out which food was involved," said microbiologist Dr. Ferric Fang, an infectious disease and lab medicine specialist at UW Medicine. Because symptoms can take anywhere from two days to two weeks to appear, he said, many people have difficulty remembering everything they ate before becoming sick.
Cyclospora can cause prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue. While the illness is generally not life-threatening and can be treated with antibiotics, about 10% of patients in the current outbreak have required hospitalization due to dehydration.
Washington state health officials have stated that reported cases of cyclospora this year are not linked to the large multistate outbreak.
Fang says the outbreak highlights the importance of strong public health systems that can quickly identify and help prevent foodborne illnesses.
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