Kansas and Missouri are experiencing a significant increase in cyclospora cases, with Missouri reporting nearly 600 cases and Kansas reporting 289 as of July 27. The summer months typically see a small uptick in cyclospora, but this year’s outbreak is the country’s largest in recent history.

Investigations Underway

Public health investigators are working backward through the complex food supply chain to identify the source of the contamination. The process is time-consuming, with each interview lasting up to an hour, as investigators ask patients to recall meals from days or even weeks earlier.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coordinating with public health officials across the country to track the outbreak. The CDC has reported over 4,000 confirmed cases and 308 hospitalizations related to the infection so far.

Challenges in Tracking the Outbreak

The nationwide food system, tailored to convenience and consistency, makes it difficult to track the source of the contamination. Produce can move through dozens of farms, packing facilities, grocery stores, or restaurants in days, making it hard to identify the common source.

Changes in federal rules, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act, have also impacted the ability to track the outbreak. The FDA’s new food traceability rule, set to take effect in January, aims to require more standard record-keeping for certain high-risk foods.

Local health officials, such as Austin Krohn, public information specialist for Columbia and Boone County Public Health, are working diligently to identify potential sources of contamination. “It is becoming quite a time-consuming endeavor to single in on a common theme,” Krohn said.

Original reporting: The Beacon (Kansas City) — read the source article.