At least 480 people in 16 states have been sickened in the nationwide Cyclospora outbreak as of August 6, 2013. The CDC is reporting 467 sickened, but they do not have the latest numbers from Texas, which indicate 171 illnesses. At least 27 people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.
The outbreak count by state is: Texas (171), Iowa (151), Nebraska (85), Florida (25), Wisconsin (12), Illinois (9), New York City (5), Georgia (4), Kansas (3), Louisiana(3), Arkansas (4), Missouri (3), Ohio (2), Connecticut (1), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), and New York (1). It is not yet clear whether all of the cases from all of the states are part of the same outbreak.
The cases in Iowa and Nebraska have been linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico bagged salads served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants. Public health officials in the other states are working with the CDC to try to determine if they are linked to the Iowa and Nebraska outbreaks. The cases in this outbreak are defined as “laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infection in a person with onset of illness since June 2013 and no history of travel outside of the United States or Canada during the 14 days prior to onset of illness.”
The CDC has sent an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and a Public Health Prevention Service fellow to Texas to assist with the outbreak in that state. Texas has the most cases (171 at latest count) in this outbreak. Previous investigations have linked cyclospora outbreaks to fresh produce, especially lettuce and raspberries, imported from other countries.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery and explosive diarrhea that can last for two months, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, and stomach cramps. If you are experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.
