Dozens of North Carolina residents have been sickened by a mysterious parasitic disease, health officials warn.
The health department in Wake County, where Raleigh is located, said this week that it has confirmed 135 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness that causes explosive diarrhea, bloating and vomiting.
Since the first reports were filed in May, authorities have investigated three local restaurants, although they believe “herbs and vegetables” may be to blame.
The department declined to disclose which restaurants were investigated. No deaths have been reported.
The Wake County health department, where Raleigh is located, said this week that it has confirmed 135 cases of cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Cyclosporiasis can cause intestinal discomfort such as watery diarrhea, cramps, bloating and loss of appetite, according to the CDC.
“We have not identified the specific contaminated food and the outbreak appears to be over,” a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spokesperson told the local news station. WRAL.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal disease caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also called Cyclospora. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions and is generally spread when people consume food contaminated with feces.
The bacteria typically needs to be in the environment for one to two weeks after being passed in feces to infect someone, meaning it is not usually spread from person to person.
It is most often found in produce such as fresh herbs, romaine lettuce and berries. In the case of Wake County, officials believe the illnesses could be linked to contaminated herbs and vegetables.
The department did not specify which particular foods are suspect.
Cyclosporiasis may not cause symptoms, but typical signs include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue.
Local resident Haley Trent told WRAL: “The biggest thing is how scary it is. It could happen at any time and there’s no way to really protect yourself.”
Cyclosporiasis is caused by eating products contaminated with feces.
Ms. Trent experienced chills, an “extreme” fever, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite. “I couldn’t keep any food or water or Gatorade or any type of medication down,” she said.
She had to be rushed to hospital twice, but has since recovered.
Although the parasite usually goes away on its own, patients may require intravenous fluids and antibiotics to relieve symptoms.
According to the CDC, there were about 2,200 cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States last year, but no deaths were reported.
This is a dramatic increase from 537 cases in 2016, although officials believe this could be because DNA and stool sample testing is becoming more widely available.
To prevent illness, CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables and cleaning produce before using it.