Has Pittsburgh been hit by the U.S. outbreak of cyclosporiasis, the illness sickening thousands with explosive diarrhea? Is there treatment? And are there specific produce you should avoid eating to lower your risk of catching the parasite that causes the illness?
Experts believe cases in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia are linked. But there aren’t many details yet on the source of the illness, and cases are likely underreported.
Here’s what we know about cyclosporiasis cases in Pittsburgh and how you can protect yourself.
How Many Cases of Cyclosporiasis Are There in the Pittsburgh Area?
One of the 11 people in the Pittsburgh area with identified cases of cyclosporiasis had been hospitalized in Allegheny County as of July 15, according to county health officials.
During an Allegheny County Health Department meeting on July 15, Dr. Iulia Vann, director of the department, gave an update on local cases, revealing that one person was in the hospital, according to TribLIVE.
“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, noting that the numbers recorded by the Centers for Disease Control were lagging behind national reports.
“We know that already Michigan has reported over 3,700 cases. However, the CDC website only reports 1,600 for all 35 states,” Vann said. “These numbers are very quickly increasing, and we’re trying to stay ahead of the information here in Allegheny County.”
Statewide, the Centers for Disease Control reported between 11 and 30 identified cases since May 1 of this year, noting that the true number of cases is likely higher since some people recover without medical care and aren’t tested for the parasite.
What Is Cyclosporiasis? What Produce Is Linked to the Parasite Causing Explosive Diarrhea?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as cyclospora, according to the CDC. The illness is not usually life-threatening.
The parasite spreads when people eat food or drink water that was contaminated with feces. People may be at an increased risk for infection when living or traveling in tropical or subtropical regions of the world where cyclosporiasis regularly occurs.
In the U.S., outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce. Officials haven’t determined the source of the current outbreak, though health officials in Michigan are examining lettuce as a potential source. Taco Bell removed ingredients such as cilantro and lettuce at some restaurants in what the fast food chain described as a precautionary move.
What Should I Do if I Have Cyclosporiasis? Guidance for the Pittsburgh Area
Allegheny County Health Department advised anyone who believed they may have cyclosporiasis to contact their healthcare provider.
Healthcare providers are being asked to report cyclosporiasis cases to the county’s health department.
How Do I Know if I Have Cyclosporiasis? Symptoms and Testing
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may include:
- Explosive, watery diarrhea (most common)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Less common symptoms may include:
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
- Other flu-like symptoms
Symptoms generally start about a week after being infected and can last anywhere from a few days to a month or longer without treatment. Some symptoms, such as diarrhea, may go away and then return.
The illness is diagnosed by testing stool samples, according to the CDC.
How Is Cyclosporiasis Treated? Does It Clear Up on Its Own?
The treatment of choice for cyclosporiasis is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), which is sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim, according to the CDC.
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim are types of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Available as a tablet, it belongs to a group of medications called sulfonamide antibiotics.
While cyclosporiasis infection can often clear up on its own in healthy individuals, symptoms may last several weeks.
How to Protect Yourself From Cyclosporiasis
The best way to prevent cyclosporiasis is to avoid food or water that may be contaminated with feces, according to the CDC.
Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite, according to health officials.
The CDC also recommends safe food-handling practices when dealing with produce to reduce your risk of exposure to the parasite, including:
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
Sara Moniuszko and Melina Khan contributed to this report. Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reporting by Finch Walker and Chad Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY.
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