CDC reports Stomach bug outbreak

Over 500 cases of infection with the cyclospora parasite in 16 states and New York City, with 30 patients hospitalized in five of those states have been reported.  Earlier in the week, the source of the outbreak in at least 2 states were traced to a Mexican farm that supplied salad mix to Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on its website that illnesses in The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Nebraska and Iowa were traced to Taylor Farms de Mexico.  The FDA has been trying to determine whether the prepackaged salad mix was the source of infection in the other states also. It is not clear if all the outbreaks are from the same source at this time.  Taylor Farms CEO relates that their plants have an extensive water-testing program and all of their tests have been negative. Taylor noted that Taylor Farms de Mexico does not supply Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Texas, the state that now has the highest number of illnesses in the outbreak.

According to the CDC, 190 illnesses reports so far were reported in Texas, Iowa has had 153 and Nebraska has had 85. Prior outbreaks have been caused by tainted produce the agency reported.  Cases have now been reported in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.  An expert cited that even though it makes people very ill, it is not usually life-threatening.

CDC reports symptoms

It is unlikely to be fatal, but can make people miserable. Symptoms include cramping   abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, nausea, fatigue, fever, headache, and body aches.  The diarrhea can last for days. It takes about a week for people who are infected to become sick.   cyclosporiasis are caused by a single-celled parasite and cannot be spread from person to person; it has to be ingested via contaminated water or foods such as fruit and vegetables, according to the CDC.

It is believed there are many more cases not reported as people would tend to think that it is just a common stomach bug. The CDC director encourages people who have diarrhea more than a couple of days to be checked for cyclospora. If not treated, symptoms can last from a few days to a month or longer, go away and then return later. It can be treated with the antibiotic Bactrim.

The safest way to protect yourself and family is to always rinse fresh produce under water, and even put vegetables in a cold water bath ahead of time to properly clean them.  Prepackaged salads should also be washed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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