Community Corner
Parasite That Can Cause 57 Days of Diarrhea Arrives in Black Hawk County
Iowa Public Health officials are searching for the cause of a statewide Cyclospora outbreak, an illness that carries symptoms that include weeks of severe diarrhea.
By Megan Ver Helst
You may want to wash those fresh fruits and veggies for a few extra minutes tonight.
Public health officials are reporting that 45 Iowans have been infected with a rare parasite called Cyclospora, which can infect those who come down with it with up to 57 days of severe diarrhea, according to the Des Moines Register.
Only 10 such cases had been reported in the state in the past 20 years, the article said.
The Register also reports that Linn County continues to have by far the most cases, with 21. Fayette, Polk and O’Brien counties each have three. Dallas, Mills, Webster and Des Moines counties each have had two. Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Johnson, Pottawattamie, Van Buren and Woodbury each have had one.
Iowa Now reports that in the past, Clyclospora has been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, snow peas and mesclun lettuce.Â
No commercially frozen or canned produce has been implicated.
You may want to wash those fresh fruits and veggies for a few extra minutes tonight.
Public health officials are reporting that 45 Iowans have been infected with a rare parasite called Cyclospora, which can infect those who come down with it with up to 57 days of severe diarrhea, according to the Des Moines Register.
Only 10 such cases had been reported in the state in the past 20 years, the article said.
The Register also reports that Linn County continues to have by far the most cases, with 21. Fayette, Polk and O’Brien counties each have three. Dallas, Mills, Webster and Des Moines counties each have had two. Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Johnson, Pottawattamie, Van Buren and Woodbury each have had one.
Iowa Now reports that in the past, Clyclospora has been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, snow peas and mesclun lettuce.Â
No commercially frozen or canned produce has been implicated.
"We've had cases that have been involved with lettuce, with berries, so we are looking at those fresh produce options that our patients have eaten,"Heather Meador, Linn County Public Health Nurse, told KWWL earlier this week.
The State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa is working with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the source of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, according to Iowa Now.
If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with Cyclospora infection, contact your physician. Diagnosis of cyclosporiasis can only be accomplished by a laboratory test. Your physician will provide an appropriate specimen collection kit and submission form which will then be sent to the Hygienic Laboratory for testing.Â
Additional information is available on the IDPH website.
If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with Cyclospora infection, contact your physician. Diagnosis of cyclosporiasis can only be accomplished by a laboratory test. Your physician will provide an appropriate specimen collection kit and submission form which will then be sent to the Hygienic Laboratory for testing.Â
Additional information is available on the IDPH website.
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