Most foodborne illnesses are caused by bacteria that can often be traced back to a specific product within days. Parasites are different. They are harder to detect, more difficult to track through the food chain and can leave investigators searching for answers long after the first people become ill.
That is the situation now facing U.S. health authorities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reports UNILAD.
Cases continue to rise
Federal officials have confirmed 145 Cyclospora infections across 17 states, with at least 20 people requiring hospital care. No deaths have been reported.
Investigators believe the outbreak originated inside the United States because none of the confirmed patients had travelled abroad before developing symptoms. That has shifted the focus toward a contaminated domestic food or water source distributed across multiple states.
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Fresh produce in focus
Although the source has not yet been identified, the CDC says previous Cyclospora outbreaks have repeatedly been linked to fresh produce. Leafy greens, herbs and berries have all been associated with earlier investigations.
Unlike bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, Cyclospora cayetanensis depends on humans as its only known host. Crops may become contaminated if they are exposed to water polluted with human waste or handled under poor sanitary conditions during production.
Why diagnosis matters
Illness usually develops between two days and two weeks after exposure and may include persistent diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, fatigue and weight loss. Without treatment, symptoms can continue for weeks or even months.
The CDC also warns that standard stool examinations may not detect the parasite. For that reason, doctors may need to request specialised laboratory testing before patients can receive the targeted antibiotic treatment used against Cyclospora infections.
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