‘I Would Not Panic’: What To Know About the ‘Explosive Diarrhea’ Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

What is cyclosporiasis?

It's an infection caused by a parasite called cyclospora, which lives in dirt and water. It spreads when fresh fruits and vegetables come in contact with water or soil contaminated with infected human feces, which can happen due to contaminated irrigation water or poor field sanitation. When you consume food or water that is contaminated with this parasite, you can get sick, but it's not right away. It can take from a couple of days up to two weeks before it fully manifests.

What are the primary symptoms of cyclosporiasis?

Watery diarrhea is the main one, and it can be pretty profound when it happens. It also causes nausea, abdominal cramps, and fatigue. It can become more problematic in people who are more vulnerable to hydration status, including young and older people.

What about people who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised?

They’re not necessarily going to get sicker from the illness, but they're probably going to have more prolonged diarrhea and are more likely to end up feeling the effects of dehydration, which can affect your kidneys and other organs and puts you at a higher risk of experiencing more health issues.

Are people being hospitalized with this illness at all?

A number of people have been hospitalized so far when their symptoms go beyond what they can treat themselves at home. They are typically treated with hydration or IV fluids and sometimes antibiotics.

Are there any foods that people should avoid right now because of the cyclosporiasis outbreak?

Not necessarily. Unfortunately, the things that are most often associated with foodborne illnesses like this are the ones that are also very healthy for you. So, lettuces, raspberries, blueberries, basil, cilantro — these are all common things that are actually very good for you in terms of the nutritional aspect. In the absence of there being a specific recall for a specific farm or something like that, I would live your life and continue to eat normally. If you develop symptoms, then it's worthwhile to have testing done and try to remember what you ate that may have caused the illness.

What about washing produce? Should people be doing that more diligently now?

They should be doing that anyway, but yes, fresh produce should be washed thoroughly under running water. Foods like raspberries and sprouts should be fully submerged so that all the surfaces come in contact with water. Washing produce thoroughly reduces the risk of cyclosporiasis; however, the only sure way to kill the parasite is to heat food to at least 158 degrees.

How seriously should people be taking this cyclosporiasis outbreak?

I would not panic over this. It is something that happens fairly regularly. Every year, we see cases of cyclosporiasis. The key is that if you or someone in your household suspects you have this, talk to your health care provider. They can test you for cyclosporiasis using a stool sample. It can be treated with antibiotics, and people usually start feeling better within a week. If you develop a diarrheal disease and it's not improving, make sure you're staying hydrated and get in touch with a provider.