DIARRHEA OUTBREAK: GOT THE SHIT’S? YOU MAY HAVE CYCLOSPORA CAYETANENSIS

Written by Michael Thervil

DIARRHEA OUTBREAK: GOT THE SHIT’S? YOU MAY HAVE CYCLOSPORA CAYETANENSIS | PHOTO BY THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC)

[Cyclospora Cayetanensis diarrhea] While the Republic of Congo is fighting the spread of Ebola which has claimed the lives of over 452 people, America is now fighting its own outbreak of the intestinal disease known as Cyclospora Cayetanensis. Cyclospora Cayetanensis is known to cause “Explosive Diarrhea" that could last for months instead of days or weeks like “traditional cases of diarrhea”. Cyclospora Cayetanensis has spread to 18 American states with no end in sight. Public health experts are both stunned at how fast it’s spreading and unsure as to how Cyclospora Cayetanensis began. Cases of Cyclospora Cayetanensis have appeared in Texas, Illinois, New York, Michigan, North Carolina, Alaska, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia, Connecticut, and Colorado. Cases involving Cyclospora Cayetanensis are expected to spread across the nation.

Those infected with the parasite Cyclospora Cayetanensis began occurring around May 1^st, and according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) “There is currently no evidence of a single, multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases. Rather, this is a surveillance count of cases across the United States. Investigations to identify potential clusters and potential sources of illness are ongoing. While there haven't been any deaths associated with contracting Cyclospora Cayetanensis, victims of the parasite have reported being watery diarrhea, body aches, bloating, vomiting, headaches, low-grade fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, cramping, weight loss, loss of appetite, and increased gas.

Cyclospora Cayetanensis has been connected to snow peas, cilantro, basil, lettuce, and raspberries. This is not an exhaustive list of fruits and vegetables that may be carriers of the parasite. Again, Cyclospora Cayetanensis can last anywhere from several days to months and can be recurring. While Cyclospora Cayetanensis cannot be transmitted through human-to-human contact, it can be contracted through consuming raw or unwashed fruits and vegetables. The CDC states that people should “avoid food or water that may be contaminated with feces (poop). If you are traveling to cyclosporiasis-endemic (regularly occurring within an area or region) areas (such as tropical and subtropical regions), it's important to know that routine chemical disinfection or sanitization of food or water is unlikely to kill Cyclospora”.

The CDC is also encouraging people to practice safe food handling practices and to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water to possibly prevent the spread and/or contracting the parasite.