Wisconsin Confirms 43 Cyclospora Cases Since May as Farmers Markets Tighten Food Safety
Updated
Updated · WKOW · Jul 16
Wisconsin Confirms 43 Cyclospora Cases Since May as Farmers Markets Tighten Food Safety
3 articles · Updated · WKOW · Jul 16
Summary
Wisconsin has confirmed 43 cyclosporiasis cases since May, putting farmers markets and shoppers on alert during peak summer produce season.
Cyclospora is typically spread through contaminated fresh produce and can cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue; a UW-Madison expert said washing produce does not reliably remove the parasite.
Local growers said the outbreak has become a major concern even though officials have not linked it to Wisconsin farmers-market produce, and farms such as Blue Moon Community Farm said they are following strict safety protocols.
The outbreak has also revived scrutiny of federal surveillance after CDC's FoodNet program last year cut the number of tracked foodborne illnesses from eight to two, dropping Cyclospora.
HHS disputed that tracking stopped, saying CDC, FDA and state health departments are still collecting Cyclospora data and investigating the source of the outbreak.