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Florida has reported 50 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis since the outbreak began in May, according to the state's Department of Health, affecting more than 20 counties, including five cases in Miami-Dade and another five in Broward.
The report, collected by Telemundo 51, confirms that the Tampa Bay area - the counties of Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk - has accumulated seven more cases of the outbreak.
Health authorities have yet to identify the source of the infection.
What is cyclosporiasis and how is it transmitted?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which affects the small intestine.
Infection occurs by 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.
Historically associated with outbreaks in the United States are foods that are difficult to wash, such as herbs, lettuce, salad mixes, small fruits, basil, cilantro, onions, raspberries, and berry mixes.
Symptoms and Duration
The most common symptoms are intense watery diarrhea -up to five to ten bowel movements daily-, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, and abdominal bloating.
Routine examinations do not detect the parasite, so the diagnosis requires specific tests. It is recommended to carry out up to three fecal sample analyses on alternate days for complete accuracy.
Without treatment, the illness can last for weeks or even more than a month, with possible relapses.
In individuals with a weakened immune system, such as patients with HIV/AIDS, the infection can become chronic and lead to severe complications.
So far, no deaths related to this outbreak have been reported in the country.
The outbreak is spreading across 18 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 in 31 states since May 1, with 86 hospitalizations.
However, the agency is aware of more than 1,500 cases that require more detailed analysis to confirm that they are indeed cases of cyclosporiasis.
The ages of the patients range from five to 88 years, with a median age of 44 years, and 59% are women.
No patient reported international travel as a risk factor, which suggests 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 contamination, health authorities recommend washing fruits, vegetables, and herbs under running water before consumption, scrubbing firm products with a clean brush, removing damaged parts, and finally drying them with a clean cloth.
It is important to note that the parasite cannot be eliminated with common kitchen disinfectants: only cooking destroys Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Florida is undergoing a period of active health surveillance this year, with prior alerts regarding Vibrio vulnificus, measles, and dengue fever.
The number of cases increases during the spring and summer months; therefore, the season for cyclosporiasis is considered to run from May 1 to August 31, and authorities anticipate that the number of cases may continue to rise in the coming weeks.
In some years, clusters of cases of cyclosporiasis have been detected outside of this period.
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