Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak Spreads Across U.S., Infecting Over 140

A nasty parasite that causes watery diarrhea, nausea and fatigue is spreading across the U.S. and has already infected over 140 people, health officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 145 people between the ages of five and 86 contracted the parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, between May 1 and June 16.

Twenty of those infected have been hospitalized. The infections are spread across 17 states, with the largest concentration of cases reported in New York.

None of those who became sick from the parasite have traveled outside the country recently. Officials say they believe the patients became sick from food but have not specified what types of food may have been the culprit in the outbreak.

The Cyclospora parasite causes cyclosporiasis, which is a “nationally notifiable disease,” meaning healthcare providers are mandated to report cases to the federal government. Symptoms usually begin about a week after someone is infected, and the main ailment is watery diarrhea.

The main symptoms of the parasite infection include loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Less common side effects include vomiting, body aches, headache, low-grade fever and other flu-like symptoms, according to the CDC.

While a cyclosporiasis infection may go away on its own without antibiotics, symptoms can last anywhere from several days to a month or more, the CDC said.

The infection is typically contracted by people traveling outside of the U.S. as a result of consuming food or water that is contaminated with feces. However, none of the current patients have reported taking any recent trips.

There is also no evidence suggesting the infection can spread between people, further suggesting that current patients became sick after eating food in the U.S.

“Local, state and federal (CDC, FDA) public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases in more than one state. Investigations to identify potential sources are ongoing,” the CDC said on its posting about the current cases.

There are between 31 and 80 cases in New York, which has the most cases reported out of any state. There are also cases present in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Both Illinois and Texas have between 11 and 30 cases currently, while all other states have reported between one and 10 cases, per CDC data.

Cases rise in the summer, and the CDC considers May 1 through August 31 to be cyclosporiasis season. No deaths have been reported from the current outbreak.

As of June 16, there were 45 cases of people who ate or drank food or water that made them sick with cyclosporiasis while traveling outside of the U.S. Three of those people were hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported, the CDC said.