Cyclosporiasis In West Virginia, Latest Facts

The West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Epidemiology has been investigating the recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis, and how it has affected this state. As of Tuesday, July 28^th, there have been 245 documented cases of cyclosporiasis in West Virginia, which have resulted so far in 19 hospitalizations, but no deaths.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite that can be present on fruits and vegetables that have not been thoroughly washed – especially lettuce which is difficult to thoroughly wash.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,) it takes at least 1 to 2 weeks in the environment outside the body for the cyclospora parasite to become infectious, therefore, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely.

Common symptoms of cyclosporiasis include explosive watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. Symptoms typically begin about one to two weeks after exposure and can persist for several weeks if left untreated.

As a precaution, consumers should avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations, since the CDC has reported a large number of people from 9 states (including West Virginia) who were infected with the cyclospora parasite, who ate lettuce at a Taco Bell in the two weeks prior to their illness. The CDC recommends people contact a healthcare provider if they develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially if they ate shredded iceberg lettuce from a Taco Bell restaurant during the two weeks before becoming ill.

On July 17, Taylor Farms recalled their iceberg lettuce which is imported from Mexico. This includes their “Marketside” brand sold at Walmart, since some or it has tested positive for the cyclospora parasite. The CDC has advised the public to not eat any of the recalled lettuce and to wash any items such as plates, food utensils etc. that have come into contact with that lettuce, with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher before using them with other foods. The CDC also warns that the recalled lettuce may be only one of many still unknown produce foods causing the outbreak.

The CDC says that the number of affected people may actually be considerably larger than just those who have sought treatment and are therefore identified.

Cyclosporiasis is not a new problem in the United States, as there are usually a fairly low number of cases spread across the nation; however, this outbreak is much larger than what is usually seen. The illness itself, while seldom life threatening, can cause a lot of long-term and miserable suffering, so a word to the wise is to be very careful in handling and preparing any raw produce, especially lettuce and consider avoiding ordering foods containing lettuce, such as salads, at restaurants for a while until this outbreak is over.