Dozens of North Carolina residents have fallen ill from a mysterious parasitic disease, health officials warn.
The health department in Wake County, where Raleigh is located, reported this week that 135 cases have been confirmed of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal disease that causes explosive diarrhea, bloating and vomiting.
Since the first reports were made in May, officials have investigated three local restaurants, but they suspect “herbs and vegetables” are the culprit.
The department declined to disclose which restaurants were investigated. No deaths have been reported.
The health department in Wake County, where Raleigh is located, said this week it has confirmed 135 cases of cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis
According to the CDC, cyclosporiasis can cause intestinal symptoms such as watery diarrhea, cramps, bloating, and loss of appetite
“We have not yet identified the specific contaminated food and the outbreak appears to be over,” a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) told a local news station WRAL.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal disease caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also called Cyclospora. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions and is usually spread when people consume food contaminated with feces.
Typically, the bacteria must remain in the environment for one to two weeks after being excreted in the feces before someone can become infected. This means that the bacteria are generally not passed from one person to another.
It is most commonly found in produce such as fresh herbs, romaine lettuce and berries. In the case of Wake County, officials believe the illnesses may be linked to contaminated herbs and vegetables.
The ministry did not specify which specific foods are suspect.
Cyclosporiasis does not always cause symptoms, but typical symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue.
Local resident Haley Trent told WRAL, “The biggest thing is the scariness of it. That it could happen at any moment and there’s no way to really protect yourself from it.”
Cyclosporiasis is caused by eating fruits and vegetables that have been contaminated with feces.
Ms. Trent suffered from chills, “extreme” fever, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite. “I couldn’t keep any food down and I couldn’t keep any water or Gatorades or medications down,” she said.
She had to go to the emergency room twice, but has since recovered.
Although the parasite usually goes away on its own, patients may still require intravenous fluids and antibiotics to relieve their symptoms.
According to the CDC, there were about 2,200 cases of cyclosporiasis in the U.S. last year, but no deaths were reported.
This is a dramatic increase from the 537 cases in 2016, but authorities believe this is because DNA and stool tests are becoming more widely available.
To prevent illness, the CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables. The CDC also recommends cleaning produce before using it.
