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Kan. (WIBW) – Shawnee County Health Department officials on Friday said they were seeing an uptick in confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis
The cases are currently under investigation by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
As the KDHE Reportable Infectious Disease Dashboard is updated, residents may notice an increase in reported cases in Shawnee County, officials said
As of Friday, July 17, 2026, the Health Department reports 18 confirmed cases of the illness in Shawnee County
While the increase reflects confirmed illnesses, public health officials are continuing to investigate each case to determine whether any common exposures exist
At this time, Shawnee County Health Department officials said:
· CDC and state and federal partners are working together to investigate several outbreaks of cyclosporiasis. Investigations to identify and confirm the
· There is no identified common
· CDC, FDA, and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in 5 states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia
· FDA is working directly with the supplier to determine if contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce went to other places
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis
People become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite
The illness is not commonly spread directly from person to person
Symptoms typically begin about 2 to 14 days after exposure and may include:
· Frequent, sometimes watery diarrhea
· Weight loss
· Stomach cramps or bloating
· Nausea Fatigue
· Low-grade fever
Individuals experiencing persistent diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Cyclosporiasis can be diagnosed through laboratory testing and is treatable with prescription antibiotics
Residents can help reduce their risk of foodborne illnesses by:
· Washing fresh fruits and vegetables before eating
· Practicing good hand hygiene, especially before preparing or eating food
· Staying home when experiencing diarrhea or other gastrointestinal illness
· Seeking medical care if symptoms are severe or persist
The Shawnee County Health Department will continue working closely with KDHE and the CDC throughout the investigation
Additional information will be shared if a common necessary, Shawnee County Health Department officials said
For more information about cyclosporiasis, visit the CDCand KDHE websites
13 NEWS’ Aja Carter contributed to this report
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