Public Health – Seattle & King County issued an update on the national outbreak of Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes explosive diarrhea. While a national outbreak has cases reported in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and many other states, King County has not seen any unexpected increases in cyclosporiasis cases so far.

Local Situation

According to Ann Shen, the lead for foodborne and enteric disease investigations for Public Health – Seattle & King County, the county typically sees a small number of cyclosporiasis cases each year, mostly related to international travel. However, some residents with no out-of-state travel have also been diagnosed, suggesting a possible local source of the parasite.

Cyclospora can survive on produce and can’t be killed by typical cleaning methods, such as rinsing or washing. Vigorously scrubbing or removing the fruit or vegetable skin can help reduce the risk. Contaminated produce is the likely source of the national outbreak, but the exact source has not been confirmed.

Prevention and Risk Reduction

To reduce the risk of getting sick from raw or undercooked produce, especially for those with weakened immune systems or young children, cooking the produce to an internal temperature of 158°F (70°C) or higher can be effective. Washing hands and any fresh produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking is also recommended.

While there are no specific recommendations to avoid particular foods in King County, people with weakened immune systems or concerns about risk may want to avoid foods previously known to have Cyclospora, such as bagged salads, raspberries, and packaged fresh herbs.

Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.