Ongoing parasitic outbreak sickens three more; Salmonella outbreak has ended

Federal officials continue to investigate an outbreak of infections from the parasite Cyclospora.

The patient count has increased to 61, up from 58 a week ago. The Food and Drug Administration has not reported the patients’ ages or where they live. The agency has begun sample testing but has not reported what food is being tested. The FDA first posted information about the outbreak on July 16.

Anyone who has developed symptoms of Cyclospora infection, and has reason to believe they have been exposed to the parasite, should seek medical attention. Specific tests are required and antibiotics are used to fight the parasite.

Cyclospora infection can cause severe abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, body aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can develop between two and 14 days after exposure. Though symptoms can be severe enough to send people to the hospital, it’s rare for people to die from Cyclospora infections. 

Cyclospora is a type of protozoa, which is a single-celled organism. It is transmitted when people somehow ingest microscopic amounts of contaminated feces, typically through contaminated food or water. It can be spread only through human waste, unlike E. coli and salmonella, which can also be spread from animal fecal matter. 

Previous U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce, including basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries, and snow peas.

Food safety experts say there’s no evidence that washing the produce will remove the parasite.

In other outbreak news, the FDA has closed an investigation into an outbreak of infections caused by Salmonella Enteritidis. The agency did not determine the source of the pathogen. The outbreak sickened 34 people. The FDA did not report the ages of the patients or where they lived. The agency first posted information about the outbreak on April 23.

The FDA continues to investigate an outbreak of infections from Salmonella Oranienburg. The FDA has not reported where the patients or their ages. The agency has begun traceback but has not reported what food it is tracing. The FDA first posted the outbreak on July 16.

For an outbreak of Salmonella Anatum infections, the FDA has determined that the cause is Deep brand frozen sprouted mat (moth) and moong (mung) beans. Eleven patients from 10 states have been confirmed. Whole genome testing showed that the Deep brand frozen sprouts were contaminated with the same strain of Salmonella as has infected the outbreak patients.

The company Chetak LLC Group has issued a recall of the implicated bean sprouts. Information on the recall can be found by clicking here.

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