Overview
- The Monroe County Health Department confirmed a cluster of Cyclospora infections Monday and has opened an active investigation to find a common exposure.
- Investigators are interviewing patients and reviewing food and water sources but have not identified a specific item, supplier, or distribution link.
- Cyclospora cayetanensis causes prolonged watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms that typically appear two to 14 days after exposure.
- Health officials urge anyone with symptoms to seek stool testing and treatment and advise washing and scrubbing fresh produce, cutting away damaged areas, and refrigerating prepared produce promptly.
- Public-health context: recent U.S. outbreaks have been tied to contaminated fresh produce in summer, the parasite is not known to spread directly between people, and untreated illness can last weeks and recur.