68 Sick in Texas Outbreak of Cyclospora

By: Candess Zona-Mendola and Jory D. Lange, Jr.

An outbreak of Cyclospora parasitic infections has been announced in the state of Texas this week. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services alert:

“The Texas Department of State Health Services is encouraging healthcare providers to test patients for the parasite Cyclospora if they have diarrheal illness lasting more than a few days or diarrhea accompanied by severe anorexia or fatigue. Diagnosis of cyclosporiasis requires submission of stool specimens for “Ova and Parasite” testing with additional specific orders for Cyclospora identification or testing by molecular methods (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or a gastrointestinal (GI) pathogen panel test) that include detection of Cyclospora. A single negative stool specimen does not exclude the diagnosis; three specimens are optimal.”

The outbreak has prompted the health agency to put the entire state on notice – asking doctors to test patients with more than a few days of diarrhea for the parasite. Anyone with a confirmed diagnosis is asked report their illness immediately. There is a high likelihood that more cases will be identified in the coming days and weeks. The agency released details that there are 68 confirmed cases. The first cases were reported in mid-June of 2017. 

Read more at UnsafeFoods.com – http://www.unsafefoods.com/2017/07/19/68-sick-texas-outbreak-cyclospora/