Cases of intestinal infection caused by the Cyclospora parasite have rapidly increased in the United States during the summer months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that as of mid-June, 145 confirmed cases had been recorded nationwide. All infections were classified as domestically acquired.
Cyclospora infection causes severe, watery, and explosive diarrhea that can last weeks or even months. According to the CDC, other symptoms include abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea, extreme fatigue, and significant weight loss.
The outbreak season officially runs from May 1 to August 31. Warm weather conditions are considered one of the factors that trigger the spread of the parasite.
Cases have spread across a wide geographic area, from Texas to Alaska. New York was the most affected state, with 31 to 80 cases reported. Texas and Illinois each recorded 11 to 30 cases.
Among the 145 confirmed cases, 20 required hospital treatment. Patients ranged in age from 5 to 86, with a median age of 42. Women accounted for 61 percent of cases. It was reported that the infection can sometimes resolve on its own but usually requires antibiotic treatment, and no deaths have occurred to date.
The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health authorities are investigating clusters involving multiple states. However, no evidence of a single multistate outbreak linking all cases has yet been identified.
Officials recommend that people with symptoms seek testing and treatment from a healthcare provider.
