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N.C. (WITN) – Health officials in Eastern North Carolina are urging residents to take precautions as cyclosporiasis cases continue to rise across the state
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported 867 total cases, an increase of 149 since last week’s update. Pitt County Health Director Wes Gray said cases are reported each year, but this year has seen a notable increase
Gray urged residents to monitor for symptoms and seek medical attention if they persist
“Be it the gastrointestinal symptoms, the fatigue, cramps, nausea. If it lasts for more than a few days, make sure you talk with your provider, medical provider,” Gray said
Gray also said the illness can become dangerous for those with underlying health conditions
“If you have a lot of underlying conditions, or if you’re experiencing these symptoms and become dehydrated, that can be a very serious condition. And we believe that is what has lead to these deaths that have been reported in the northern part of our country,” Gray said
Six cases have been reported in Pitt County, four in Craven County, two each in Onslow and Duplin counties, and one case in Carteret County. No cases have been reported in Lenoir County
No deaths from the disease have been reported in North Carolina. Two deaths have been reported in Michigan
New Bern resident Edjoanet Medina said she has several health conditions and the outbreak has made her nervous. She said she has stopped buying lettuce and cilantro because the illness has been linked to raw herbs and produce in the past
“No one wants to get sick, especially that bad. I mean, the risk of getting sick nowadays — you never know how bad it could get,” Medina said
Lenoir County Health Department Health Director Pamela Brown said while no cases have been reported in the county, she wants the public to be aware of steps they can take to avoid contracting the illness. Brown said properly washing fruits and vegetables is among the precautions residents can take
“Some fruits and vegetables can have like a hard wash, where you use a brush to wash the outside of them. Or you might be able to peel them. Or, if it’s something like a cabbage or a lettuce, you might be able to take off a couple of layers of leaves just to minimize that risk,” Brown said
Health officials say cyclosporiasis symptoms can begin about a week after infection
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