Parasite outbreak in Ohio and 17 other states, CDC says. What to know about cases, symptoms
There’s a new parasite outbreak in 18 states across the country and one of those states is Ohio.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently monitoring the outbreak, as there have been over 140 cases and 20 hospitalizations. Here’s what to know:
What is the new outbreak?
The illness is called Cyclosporiasis and it comes from the parasite Cyclospora, which is caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. The parasite primarily occurs out of the country and is brought back in the United States.
“Case counts rise during the spring and summer months; therefore, the cyclosporiasis season is considered May 1 through August 31,” said CDC experts.
Currently, the states with the outbreak are: Alaska, Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
New York has the highest number of people sick with the parasite, but Texas and Illinois aren’t far behind. In Georgia, there are between 1 and 10 people with the parasite, according to CDC reports.
What are the symptoms of the parasite?
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Cyclosporiasis “is generally transmitted when infected feces contaminate food or water.”
Risk factors include people that live outside the country or are traveling. So, what are the symptoms? Here’s what to know:
Symptoms start after one week of contracting the illness and symptoms include:
- Watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements.
- Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue.
- People may also experience vomiting, body aches, headache, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms
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