- Related
- Cyclospora
- outbreak
- health
- Warnings
- North Carolina
By Grace Hayba, WRAL health reporter
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services discussed the recent increase in cyclosporiasis and the steps people can take to protect themselves on Tuesday.
Dr. Carl Williams, State Public Health Veterinarian for NCDHHS, clarified that the increase is considered an outbreak
“You could say that it would be statewide outbreak like a lot of other states are seeing,” Williams said. “Usually we like to say we’ve identified ahat yet. But, clearly there are
North Carolina has reported 561 cases of cyclosporiasis since May, according to state data. There have been 254 new cases reported since the last update on July 14.
The cases are spread out across the state, with the majority being reported in Wake County. The Wake County Health Department reported more cases Tuesday, bringing
the county’s total to 350 cases
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking more than 1,500 cases across five states and on Friday linked those cases to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell
However, NCDHHS said in North Carolina it is likely lettuce is not the sole culprit.
“Our thought is that it’s likely, maybe probable, that there are multiple vehicles” Williams stated. “It’s not a single
Because of how long an infection can last, Cyclospora is extremely difficult to trace
Dr. Williams explained to WRAL that determining thes often don’t appear until 2 to 14 days after someone eats contaminated food. By then, many people struggle to remember exactly what they ate.
WakeMed Urgent Care Medical Director Dr. Christopher Chao said it can be hard to narrow down exactly what the
“Most patients don’t get sick for at least a week, and by the time we interview them, and by the time we try to identify the,” he said
Cyclosporiasis cases typically rise during summer months largely due to the fact that the parasite is often found in fresh fruits and vegetables that are often consumed raw.
“Foodborne disease investigations are complicated in general because you have to rely on interviews with the case patients to get their food history,” Williams said. “If you wait too long, you tend to get food preferences as opposed to the specific history.”
The investigation is made even more difficult because Cyclospora has historically been linked to ingredients like cilantro and parsley that are often mixed into meals and easily forgotten.
That’s exactly what investigators faced during North Carolina’s 2024 Cyclospora outbreak. WRAL investigated a 2024 outbreak of more than 130 cases tied to at least three Wake County restaurants. Health officials reported months later, after speaking with several patients, that the outbreak was due to a shrimp and parsley salad
Following the 2024 outbreak, NCDHHS strengthened its investigation process by creating a working group with the Wake County Health Department, the CDC, the FDA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The agencies now coordinate food history interviews, ingredient tracebacks and genetic testing to better identify links between cases.
Another challenge is the short shelf life of fresh produce. By the time investigators identify a common ingredient among patients with cyclospora, the contaminated product may have already been discarded from the food supply.
As investigators continue searching for a commonduce thoroughly and seeking medical care if severe symptoms develop
Anyone experiencing severe diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms that persist for days should contact a healthcare provider. Cyclospora is typically diagnosed through a stool sample. Though Dr. Chao said that the test likely will be discouraged until the illness has lasted for several days
“Our biggest ask to the public is to avoid the temptation, avoid the ask to test too early. The majority of diarrhea cases will resolve in a few days and viral illnesses are still common. So we recommend that anything under 7 days, we defer testing.”
