Lancaster County Confirms 5 Cyclospora Cases as 4 Were Acquired in the U.S.

Q: Washing produce may not remove the parasite. What is the only guaranteed way to stay safe?

The only reliable way to eliminate Cyclospora is to cook food thoroughly to at least 158°F (70°C). Health officials say rinsing produce under running water can reduce dirt and some contamination, but it may not remove this parasite. Cyclospora is also resistant to routine chemical disinfection, so vinegar, produce washes, soap, or bleach are not proven fixes and some can be unsafe to use on food. That is why heat matters. Federal guidance cited in the outbreak response says cooking, baking, or boiling food to 158°F or higher kills the parasite. For foods that are normally eaten raw, that means there is no guaranteed at-home method to make them completely safe other than avoiding them or choosing cooked versions. People can still lower risk by washing hands well with soap and water, rinsing produce, preventing cross-contamination in the kitchen, and following outbreak updates from health officials. But if the question is what guarantees safety, the answer is heat: fully cook the food.

3 articles · Updated · KOLN · Jul 16

Five cyclospora cases were confirmed in Lancaster County this month, with local health officials saying four infections were acquired in the United States and one was tied to international travel.
Federal, state and local investigators are interviewing patients to identify a source and determine whether the cases are linked to broader U.S. outbreaks.
Three additional travel-related cases were reported in June, but the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said current summer case counts are still not above average.
Fresh produce is commonly linked to cyclospora outbreaks; the parasite spreads through contaminated food or water, not person to person, and can cause weeks to months of watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.