Not long after Pennsylvania was one of four more states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said is part of a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak caused by iceberg lettuce, identified cases in Pittsburgh increased.
On July 24, the CDC expanded the list of states impacted by an outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce products from Taylor Farms de Mexico, adding Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma to the list.
While the number of people sickened by the cyclospora parasite, which causes an illness whose hallmark symptom is explosive diarrhea, continues to skyrocket nationally, it’s not clear exactly how many cases there are in Pittsburgh. CBS News Pittsburgh reported on July 27 that Allegheny County Health Department had recorded 35 cases, with two resulting in hospitalizations. The health department has not published any updates since July 14.
Here’s what to know about cyclosporiasis cases in Pittsburgh and how to avoid it.
How Many Cases of Cyclosporiasis Are There in Pittsburgh?
On July 14, Allegheny County Health Department reported 11 cases of cyclospora, with Dr. Iulia Vann, director of Allegheny County Health Department, saying during a public meeting the following day that there had been one hospitalization.
“We know that this is a continuous outbreak investigation, so all of this information is changing very quickly, and everybody is working as fast as they can for numbers to be updated,” Vann said, according to TribLIVE.
On July 27, CBS News Pittsburgh reported that the county health department had recorded 35 cases of the illness and that two people had been hospitalized. The county was waiting on information from federal and state officials to find out if the local cases were tied to the multi-state outbreak involving iceberg lettuce.
On July 29, the CDC was reporting 50 to 199 identified cases of cyclosporiasis in Pennsylvania since May 1 of this year. The agency noted the true number is likely higher because not everyone seeks medical care or receives testing for the parasite. The cyclospora season runs from May 1 to Aug. 31 each year.
Nationwide, there have been 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases of the illness since May 1, the CDC said in its weekly update on July 28. That’s an increase of more than 2,500 since the agency’s previous report on July 21.
Cases have now been recorded in 45 states, up from 41 the prior week. More than 11,500 additional cases, mostly in Michigan and Ohio, have not yet been confirmed by laboratories, the CDC said.
Is Lettuce Safe to Eat? Recalled Products
While health officials are still investigating the sources of what they believe to be multiple separate outbreaks, the largest outbreak centered in Michigan is believed to be linked to iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms, a produce giant in central Mexico.
On July 17, the company initiated a voluntary recall, saying it was removing iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico “out of an abundance of caution” in an action “prompted” by the outbreak.
Two days later, the company said in a statement that the FDA “apologized” for a “false positive” after testing its iceberg lettuce products from central Mexico for cyclospora, a claim disputed by a White House official who later told USA TODAY that Taylor Farms’ claims were “actively aggravating administration officials.” The FDA also said in a July 20 X post that the false-positive lab sample “DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.”
The recall covers shredded lettuce products grown in Mexico, some of which are sold under different brand names at various retailers.
If you’ve purchased the recalled iceberg lettuce, throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, the FDA said. Do not eat it.
People with symptoms such as watery and frequent or “explosive” diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue, should watch for signs of dehydration and contact their healthcare provider with any concerns.
How to Avoid, Treat Cyclosporiasis
Cyclospora spreads through water and food that are contaminated with human feces, so the best way to prevent cyclosporiasis is to avoid consuming things that could be contaminated with feces, according to the CDC.
Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite, according to health officials, and using safe food-handling practices helps reduce your risk of exposure.
Cyclosporiasis is treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), which is sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim, according to the CDC.
USA TODAY’s Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Chad Murphy contributed to this report.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at [email protected]. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
Reporting by Finch Walker, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Add a Comment