CHARLESTON -- West Virginia health officials have declared a statewide outbreak of cyclosporiasis following a significant increase in cases, urging residents to practice safe food handling and seek medical care if symptoms develop.
“West Virginia is monitoring a significant increase in cyclosporiasis cases and has declared a statewide outbreak,” the Hancock County Health Department said on its website. “As of July 9, 47 cases have been reported across the state since June 17. There is currently no specific produce grower, supplier or food item that has been identified as the source of the outbreak.”
The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department also issued a health advisory, sharing updated surveillance information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reminding residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of infection.
The advisory comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 843 cases of cyclosporiasis in 31 states among people who became sick after consuming food in the United States and reported no international travel during the 14 days before becoming ill.
Those infected ranged in age from 5 to 88 years old, with a median age of 44. According to the CDC, 59% of reported cases involved females. The median illness onset date was June 18, with cases reported from May 1 through July 5. Of the 843 people with available information, 86 were hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
The CDC said multiple jurisdictions have reported increases in cases compared with the same period last year and expects case numbers to continue rising as additional reports are received. Local, state and federal health officials, including the CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are investigating clusters of cases in several states, but no common source has been identified.
Health officials said the actual number of infections may be higher because some people recover without medical care and are never tested for Cyclospora.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. People become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with feces containing the parasite. Unlike some intestinal illnesses, Cyclospora is not spread directly from person to person.
Anyone can become infected, though U.S. outbreaks have most often been linked to imported fresh produce. Previous outbreaks have been associated with raspberries, basil, snow peas and mesclun lettuce. No commercially frozen or canned produce has been linked to outbreaks.
Symptoms typically begin about one week after exposure but can appear anywhere from two days to more than two weeks later. Without treatment, symptoms can last several weeks or longer.
Symptoms may include:
-- Frequent watery diarrhea, the most common symptom.
-- Loss of appetite and weight.
-- Stomach cramping, bloating and increased gas.
-- Nausea.
-- Fatigue.
-- Low-grade fever.
Anyone experiencing persistent diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms should contact a healthcare provider.
The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department and state health officials recommend residents take several steps to reduce the risk of infection:
-- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before preparing or eating food.
-- Wash fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.
-- Avoid food or water that may be contaminated with human waste.
-- Practice safe food handling and preparation.
-- Follow safe food and drinking water precautions when traveling internationally.
Officials cautioned that while washing produce is important, Cyclospora can cling tightly to fruits and vegetables, making it difficult to remove completely. Commercial produce washes and many chemical sanitizers are not effective at killing the parasite.
The West Virginia Department of Health said it continues to investigate the outbreak with local, state and federal partners. Officials said no specific food product has been identified as the source and no consumer food recalls or avoidance recommendations have been issued at this time.