PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — The Portsmouth City Health Department is urging residents to take extra care in washing fresh produce after health officials reported a rise in cases of a parasitic intestinal illness across multiple U.S. states.
In a health alert posted July 17, the department said domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis — an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora — have been reported in several states. It advised anyone experiencing prolonged or watery diarrhea to see a clinician, especially if symptoms last more than a few days.
People become infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite, and past outbreaks in the United States have been tied to contaminated fresh produce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms typically begin about a week after exposure, though onset can range from two to 14 days.
The most common symptom is watery diarrhea, which can be frequent, the CDC says. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or bloating, nausea and fatigue, and some people develop a low-grade fever. Without treatment, symptoms can follow a course that comes and goes over a period lasting from a few days to a month or more.
To reduce the risk of infection, the health department urged residents to thoroughly wash fresh produce under clean running water before eating it — even when it is labeled “pre-washed” — and to follow safe food-handling practices. The department cautioned that chemical disinfectants and produce sanitizers may not fully eliminate Cyclospora, making thorough washing an important food-safety step.
Cyclosporiasis is typically treated with the antibiotic combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, sold under brand names such as Bactrim and Septra, according to the CDC. People who believe they may be infected are encouraged to contact a health care provider.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Portsmouth City Health Department.
