Texas has now reported 410 cyclosporiasis cases this year, according to state health authorities, with 60 people in Texas hospitalized due to the illness
A spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, Douglas Loveday, provided the updated numbers in a Tuesday afternoon email. The new count represents an increase of 95 cases reportedsince last week
Texas health authorities haven’t identified aen connected with the large, multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis that was linked to iceberg lettuce
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Texas reports cyclosporiasis cases each year. The main symptom of the illness is diarrhea, which can be extreme and sometimes explosive, according to health authorities. The illness is caused by a parasite called cyclospora which, in the U.S., is typically found on contaminated produce
While Texas’ case count has jumped in the last couple weeks, the state’s numbers pale in comparison with the massive case counts that some other states have reported this year. Michigan has now reported nearly 14,000 cases along with more than 300 hospitalizations. While most people recover from cyclosporiasis, either with or without medical treatment, the state of Michigan has also reported two deaths from the illness
The cyclospora season typically runs from May through the end of August.
