Credit CDC
# 7483
Last week in Iowa & Nebraska Report Cyclospora Outbreak I wrote about an outbreak of a relatively rare (at least in the United States) intestinal illness due to the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
A week ago (July 8th) Iowa had reported 22 laboratory confirmed cases. Today, that number has more than tripled, with 71 cases now confirmed.
First, two updates from the Iowa Department of Public Health, and then I’ll return with a little bit more.
IDPH Cyclospora Case Count Update
The Iowa Department of Public Health, CDC and local public health agencies are investigating an outbreak of an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora (a rare parasite). As of today, July 15, 71 cases of Cyclospora infections have been reported to IDPH; almost all have been identified through testing at the State Hygienic Lab (SHL), including:
- Linn County - 30 cases
- Polk County - 5 cases
- Fayette County - 3 cases
- O’Brien County - 3 cases
- Dallas County - 3 cases
- Buchanan - 3 cases
- Black Hawk County - 3 cases
- Webster County - 3 cases
- Mills County - 2 cases
- Des Moines County - 2 cases
- Boone County - 3 cases
- Benton County - 1 case
- Keokuk - 1 case
- Monona - 1 case
- Butler - 1 case
- Winneshiek - 1 case
- Johnson County - 1 case
- Pottawattamie County - 1 case
- Van Buren County - 1 case
- Story County - 1 case
- Cedar County - 1 case
- Woodbury County - 1 case
Total - 71 cases
Iowa Cyclospora Outbreak 2013
Outbreak Update 7.15.13
(new information is highlighted)
- IDPH, CDC, the State Hygienic Laboratory and local public health agencies are investigating an
outbreak caused by Cyclospora.- As of today, 71 cases of Cyclospora infections have been reported to IDPH. Case counts are updated at approximately 10 a.m. each day.
- Cyclospora is a rare parasite.
- Previous outbreaks have been associated with fresh produce (fresh fruits and
vegetables) - People become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated
with the parasite.
-
- The source of this outbreak is unknown at this time, however progress is being made.
- Cyclospora illness is typically traced to consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables
contaminated with the parasite; this investigation currently indicates fresh vegetables, not fruit, may be the source of illness. - IDPH is working with local public health agencies to interview individuals who are ill to determine if there is a common food exposure that would indicate the source of illness.
- Cluster investigations continue, which ask questions of both the ill person and their
family and friends who are not ill, to determine what the well people did not eat.
-
- Cylospora infection causes a watery diarrhea that lasts an average of 57 days, if untreated.
- Most of the illnesses in this outbreak began in mid to late June. Many people report still
being ill and some have had relapses. - There is treatment (medicine) available to treat Cyclospora infection.
- Specific laboratory testing (not commonly ordered) must be done to detect Cyclospora.
- Specific treatment (not typically used to treat more common diarrheal illnesses) can be prescribed.
-
- If you are experiencing diarrhea, or have recently had a long bout with diarrhea, you should
contact your health care provider and see if you should be tested for Cyclospora infection.- Additional symptoms of cyclosporiasis (the infection caused by Cyclospora) include:
Watery diarrhea
Fatigue (severe tiredness)
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Bloating
Increased gas
Stomach cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle aches
Low-grade fever
-
Unlike cryptosporidium and the infamous norovirus, which can be easily be passed from human-to-human, Cyclospora is rarely transmitted directly from an infected host.
Hosts infected with Cyclospora shed unsporulated (non-infective) cysts in their stool which require days or even weeks to mature into infectious agents.
Neighboring Nebraska has reported more than a dozen cases of Cyclospora over the past two weeks as well, although Iowa appears to be taking the brunt of the outbreak.
The CDC maintains an extensive site on Parasites - Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora Infection) where you can learn more about this water and food borne illness.
I’ll update this story when (or if) we learn the source.
