The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the investigation into the origin of the cyclosporiasis outbreak in that country was expanded to nine states, where approximately 11 thousand 573 possible cases.
The CDC says that in research into the parasitic infection that causes severe diarrhea, the most affected state is Michigan, with 7 thousand 664 cases registered by the authorities.
The remaining eight states that are part of the CDC investigation are:
- Illinois
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- W.V.
- Ohio
Of the more than 11 thousand possible recorded cases, the CDC indicated that 1 thousand 947 people would have been exposed in a fast food franchise.
The CDC notes that the number of possible cases could be much higher than the preliminary figure and that the infection would not be limited to the mentioned states.
At the moment, more than 40 states Investigations continue to detect possible infections.
Health authorities link the cyclosporiasis outbreak to iceberg lettuce grown in Guanajuato, central Mexico. The product would have been distributed by the California company Taylor Farms to the American fast food chain.
However, other institutions, such as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, affirmed the past July 17 that the cyclosporiasis cases recorded in that state “would not be associated with the outbreak in other states involving the fast food chain.”
North Carolina authorities are investigating other foods, such as cilantro and parsley, as possible sources of the infection.
The parasite causes cyclosporiasis, the main symptom of which is severe and frequent diarrhea, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, nausea, fatigue, low-grade fever and vomiting, the CDC detailed.
According to authorities, the infection is not transmitted from person to person, but is more common during the hot months and is mainly caused by the consumption of contaminated fruit or vegetables.
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