A cyclospora outbreak has reported 2 deaths and over 22,000 cases across the US. The outbreak, which is caused by a parasite that gets into people’s bodies and causes a diarrheal illness, has been found in fresh produce such as parsley, cilantro, and spinach.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a foodborne parasite that gets into people’s bodies, particularly their gut, and causes a diarrheal illness. According to Dr. Steven Goldberg, chief medical officer for HealthTrackRx, the parasite is generally not life-threatening but can cause explosive diarrhea.
Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, and increased gas. Less common symptoms may include vomiting, body aches, headache, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms.
Prevention Tips
To prevent cyclosporiasis, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables, washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking, and refrigerating cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
