Johnson County is experiencing a significant increase in cases of Cyclosporiasis, a parasitic stomach bug that causes explosive diarrhea and stomach pain. As of Wednesday, the confirmed case count had reached 143, which is about a third of the total cases in the entire state of Kansas, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Cause and Symptoms
The illness, caused by the parasite known as Cyclospora, leads to watery diarrhea and is part of a multistate outbreak across the United States. Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease specialist for the KU Health System, describes the situation as “quite concerning” and advises anyone who thinks they have Cyclosporiasis to contact their doctor about getting tested and treated.
Most people will not require hospitalization for the illness, and there are treatments available to help manage symptoms and reduce the duration of the sickness. A generic antibiotic called Bactrim is part of the standard treatment for Cyclosporiasis, though it requires a prescription. However, due to the nature of the illness, there is a risk of dehydration or electrolyte abnormalities from fluid loss.
Outbreak and Response
The KU Health System has seen an increase in positive tests for the illness, with most cases likely coming from primary care offices, emergency rooms, and urgent care clinics. While Cyclospora is not new to Kansas, with the state typically seeing a handful of cases every year, the scale of this outbreak is significantly larger than usual and continues to grow.
Dr. Hawkinson attributes the severity of the outbreak to several factors, including the backlash from the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to a decrease in public health experts and investments in public health infrastructure. The nature of the parasite itself also poses challenges, as identifying the source through regular epidemiological practices can be difficult.
To avoid getting Cyclosporiasis, Dr. Hawkinson recommends keeping up with news about potential exposure risks and avoiding foods that have been identified as sources of the parasite. Lettuce, particularly products from Taylor Farms de Mexico and farms in Guanajuato, Mexico, has been identified as a source in this outbreak.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
