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Florida reports 50 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis since the outbreak began in May, according to the state Department of Health, affecting more than 20 counties, including five cases in Miami-Dade and another five in Broward.
The report, published by Telemundo 51, confirms that the Tampa Bay area - the counties of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk - has accumulated an additional seven cases of the outbreak.
Health authorities have not yet succeeded in identifying the source of the infection.
What is cyclosporiasis and how is it transmitted?
Cyclospora infection is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which affects the small intestine.
Infection occurs when consuming fresh food or water contaminated with human feces containing the parasite, and not through direct contact between individuals. The incubation period ranges from one to 14 days after ingestion.
Among the foods historically linked to outbreaks in the United States are difficult-to-wash products such as herbs, lettuces, salad mixes, small fruits, basil, cilantro, onions, raspberries, and berry mixes.
Symptoms and Duration
The most common symptoms are severe watery diarrhea -up to five to ten bowel movements a day-, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, and abdominal distension.
Routine exams do not detect the parasite, so diagnosis requires specific tests. It is recommended to conduct up to three analyses of stool samples on alternate days for complete accuracy.
Without treatment, the illness can last for weeks or even more than a month, with potential relapses.
In individuals with weakened immune systems, such as patients with HIV/AIDS, the infection can become chronic and lead to serious complications.
Until now, no deaths have been reported in the U.S. related to this outbreak.
The outbreak is spreading across 31 states
Florida is not the only state affected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national outbreak has reached 843 confirmed cases across 31 states since May 1, with 86 hospitalizations.
However, the agency is aware of over 1,500 cases that require a more detailed analysis to confirm that they are cases of cyclosporiasis.
The ages of the patients range from five to 88 years, with a median age of 44 years; 59% are women.
No patients reported international travel as a risk factor, indicating that the transmission is exclusively domestic.
Treatment and prevention
The treatment of choice is the antibiotic combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, commercially known as Bactrim or Septra, administered for seven to ten days in adults with a healthy immune system.
To prevent the spread of infection, health authorities recommend washing fruits, vegetables, and herbs under running water before consumption, scrubbing firm produce with a clean brush and removing any damaged parts, and finally drying them with a clean cloth.
It is important to note that the parasite is not eliminated with common kitchen disinfectants: only cooking destroys Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Florida is experiencing a period of active health surveillance this year, with prior alerts regarding Vibrio vulnificus, measles, and dengue fever.
The number of cases rises during the spring and summer months; therefore, the season for cyclosporiasis is considered to run from May 1 to August 31. Authorities expect that the number of cases could continue to increase in the coming weeks.
In some years, clusters of cyclosporiasis cases have been detected outside of this period.
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