Florida adds 66 cases of cyclosporiasis in most recent week of reporting
WUSF |
By
Rick Mayer
Published August 13, <a href="https://healthylife7.com/best-of-baltimore-2026-lifestyle-and-wellness/” title=”Best of Baltimore 2026: Lifestyle and Wellness”>2026 at 11:20 AM EDT
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CDC; istock
Since June 1, a state health department online database has received 405 case reports of the gastrointestinal illness, a benchmark date tied to the first U.S. outbreaks
More than 69 new cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in Florida during the most recent week of data released Thursday by the state health department
The 66 cases recorded Aug. 1-8 bring the state total to 405 cases since June 1, a benchmark date tied to the first U.S. outbreaks
Since June, Miami-Dade leads the state with 52 (six more in the past week), Broward is unchanged with 34 and Lee has 32 (two more)
The illness is caused by Cyclospora, a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The heat-loving parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces
The illness has been reported in at least 47 states this year, and investigators have continued to probe how many could be linked to a common contaminated source
However, on July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuceluded Marketside-brand product available at Walmart
Recalled lettuce was distributed and sold in at least 27 states to consumers, restaurants, and retailers, including Taco Bell locations
As of Aug. 5, the Food and Drug Administration accounted for 6,358 total cases in 15 states, with 278 hospitalizations. The most are in Missouri and Ohio. The most recent illness onset was July 31
It can take as long as six weeks for officials to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. Undercounts are also possible because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for the parasite
The illness is rarely fatal, although two people with underlying health conditions died with cyclosporiasis in Michigan last month, the CDC reported. There have been nearly 300 hospitalizations nationally
