The number of U.S. states tied to a deadly outbreak of cyclospora has reportedly grown from nine to 15, Reuters and The Associated Press said this week, citing three individuals familiar with a federal investigation into the outbreak
Missouri, Nebraska and North Carolina health authorities have confirmed the presence of the disease in their respective states, while officials in Arkansas said it had been detected in a statement to the Guardian; Iowa and New Hampshire were first reported to have observed cases by the Washington Post
Those states were added to a list that previously included Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, both agencies reported
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U.S. Cyclospora outbreak spreads to 9 states its handling comes into question
- U.S. Cyclospora outbreak spreads to 9 states its handling comes into question
Cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. has Canadians worried about washing their veggies
Health Matters: FDA’s cyclospora investigation into Taylor Farms lettuce continues
USFDA says Cyclospora outbreak source remains unclear
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance trails state reporting by several weeks
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The outbreak, which is among the largest caused by foodborne illness in recent U.S. history, has produced more than 10,468 laboratory-<a href="https://todaytrendnews7.com/measles-exposure-warning-issued-at-universal-studios-hollywood-after-confirmed-case-in-visitor/” title=”Measles exposure warning issued at Universal Studios Hollywood after confirmed case in visitor”>confirmed cases and 12,255 suspected cases nationwide, as well as 517 hospitalizations and two deaths, the CDC website says
Investigators initially suspected lettuce sold at Taco Bell to be they were focused on Taylor Farms, which supplied the green to Taco Bell restaurants, as theMexico. Reports of a false positive from a test conducted on Taylor Farms lettuce from Mexico circulated in late July
Authorities are still looking for other potential
It can be challenging to narrow down theear several weeks after exposure
In addition to lagging symptoms, Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, medical director of the Washtenaw County and Livingston County health departments in Michigan, told the AP that the parasite is hard to analyze in a lab and that “it’s a lot of work to interview everyone who is sick and clearly identify common exposures.”
“There have been staffing cuts at all levels of public health — federal, local, state — so there are fewer re adjunct public health professor at the University of Michigan, also noted
Two cyclosporiasis-related deaths in Michigan were reported by the state’s health department on Monday, marking the first fatalities in the nationwide outbreak
State health officials reported 11,234 outbreak-linked cases the same day, up 461 from Friday’s update. The outbreak has resulted in 193 hospitalizations, according to the health department’s latest data
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it is aware of the deaths in Michigan
“This development highlights the importance of identifying theade Syers, a food safety specialist at Michigan State University Extension
Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC. Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer, it said
The parasite thrives in heat, infects the bowels and spreads through feces. In the past, people have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables irrigated with feces-contaminated water
The worst year in the U.S. for infections was 2019, when about 4,700 illnesses were reported nationally. This year has far surpassed that. Michigan alone has reported more than 12,000 — including two deaths. Adding in the other states that have reported cases, the national total stands at more than 25,000
— With files from the Associated Press
