Buncombe, Henderson Confirm 11 Cyclospora Cases as North Carolina Outbreak Reaches 307
Updated
Updated · WLOS · Jul 16
Buncombe, Henderson Confirm 11 Cyclospora Cases as North Carolina Outbreak Reaches 307
3 articles · Updated · WLOS · Jul 16
Summary
Buncombe County confirmed 4 cyclosporiasis cases Thursday, and Henderson County later reported 7 cases since July 2, extending the outbreak into western North Carolina.
307 cases and 13 hospitalizations have been recorded statewide between May 1 and July 14, but officials have not identified a single food product behind the infections.
Cyclospora cayetanensis spreads through food or water contaminated with feces, often involving fresh herbs and raw produce such as cilantro, parsley and lettuce.
About 1 week after infection, patients can develop watery or sometimes explosive diarrhea, cramping, fatigue and nausea; the illness is usually treatable with antibiotics.
County and state health officials are tracing exposures and urging produce precautions, including washing even prewashed items, scrubbing firm produce and refrigerating cut fruits and vegetables within 2 hours.