Most of Alabama’s reported cyclosporiasis cases this year have occurred in North Alabama, prompting the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to remind residents to watch for symptoms and practice safe food handling.
As of July 20, Alabama has reported 28 cases of the intestinal illness. Twenty-two of those cases are in ADPH’s Northern District, which serves Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston counties. That means nearly four out of every five reported cases in Alabama have occurred in the state’s Northern District.
The remaining cases include two in the Southwestern District and one each in the Mobile, Northeastern, Southeastern and West Central districts. ADPH said only two patients have required hospitalization, and no deaths have been reported.
The Alabama update comes as federal health officials continue investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have linked illnesses in five states to certain lots of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. ADPH said none of Alabama’s reported cases have been directly linked to those locations, and the investigation remains ongoing.
In Alabama, health officials said four of the state’s cases were associated with international travel. Another eight cases were linked to two separate outbreaks at Mexican-style restaurants that were not connected to the Taco Bell locations involved in the federal investigation.
The FDA also announced that a previously reported positive laboratory finding involving Taylor Farms de Mexico was determined to be a false positive after additional review. Even so, Taylor Farms de Mexico and Taylor Fresh Foods voluntarily removed iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market out of an abundance of caution while the investigation continues.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People can become infected by consuming contaminated food or water. In the United States, illnesses are most commonly reported between May and August and are often associated with fresh produce such as lettuce, basil, cilantro, berries, melons and other fruits and vegetables. Direct person-to-person spread is considered unlikely.
According to ADPH, the most common symptoms include watery diarrhea, fatigue and loss of appetite. Other symptoms may include stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and weight loss. Symptoms typically begin about one week after exposure but can appear anywhere from two days to more than two weeks later. Without treatment, the illness can last from several days to more than a month.
The department said older adults and people with weakened immune systems may be at greater risk of serious illness because prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration. ADPH recommends anyone experiencing symptoms contact a healthcare provider and request testing specifically for Cyclospora, since routine stool tests may not detect the parasite.
To reduce the risk of illness, ADPH recommends washing hands and fresh produce thoroughly, cooking produce to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit when appropriate, avoiding recalled lettuce products and staying informed about food recalls and outbreak updates from ADPH, the CDC and the FDA.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
