onedef92
07-23-2013, 11:18am
Outbreak cases in Iowa increase to 102
UPDATED 10:50 AM CDT Jul 18, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa Department of Public Health officials reported 102 cases of cyclospora have now been confirmed in Iowa.
While overall numbers are up, the rate of new cases being reported is down.
Officials said the onset dates of the illness suggest the ill people had eaten the contaminated food in mid-June.
"This is a very good indication the food which was the source of the outbreak has already been consumed or discarded, since fresh vegetables have a limited shelf life. At no time was an Iowa-grown fruit or vegetable suspected to be the cause of the outbreak," reads a statement from the department.
"We know fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) has been implicated in previous cyclospora outbreaks, and interviews with those who have been ill indicate vegetables were probably the source of this outbreak," said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk in the news release. "The illness onset dates, coupled with the shelf life of fresh produce, make it very likely the vegetable that was the source of the outbreak has already been eaten or thrown away, and will not cause anyone else to become ill."
Iowa Department of Public Health, CDC and local health agencies have been investigating the outbreak of an intestinal illness caused by cyclospora since last week.
On Tuesday, officials said 81 cases have been confirmed. On Monday, 71 confirmed cases have been reported while last Friday, the count was 45 cases and last Monday it was 22 cases.
"A normal, healthy person with a great immune system will have 57 days of diarrhea on average," said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk.
The outbreak includes confirmed cases in Linn County – 34 cases, Polk County – 9 cases, Pottawattamie County – 8 cases, Dallas County – 5 cases, Black Hawk County – 4 cases, Woodbury County – 4 cases, Boone County – 4 cases, Fayette County – 3 cases, O'Brien County – 3 cases, Buchanan – 3 cases, Webster County – 3 cases, Dubuque – 3 cases, Mills County – 2 cases, Des Moines County – 2 cases, Benton County – 1 case, Keokuk County – 1 case, Monona County – 1 case, Butler County – 1 case, Lucas County – 1 case, Poweshiek County – 1 case, Winneshiek County – 1 case, Johnson County – 1 case , Montgomery County – 1 case, Iowa County – 1 case , Van Buren County – 1 case, Story County – 1 case, Cedar County – 1 case, Dickinson County – 1 case, Plymouth County – 1 case.
Cases have also been reported in Nebraska and other Midwestern states.
Fresh produce has been identified as the source of previous outbreaks. Washing fresh produce is recommended; however, it can be very difficult to wash Cyclospora off all types of produce.
"It's sort of sticky. We do recommend that everybody wash their produce, fruits and vegetables thoroughly. But we do know from experience that will reduce the risk, but it may not take the risk away all together," said Quinlisk.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include: Watery diarrhea, fatigue (severe tiredness), loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, increased gas, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and low-grade fever.
If you have prolonged diarrhea, Quinlisk recommended asking your doctor to test you for the Cyclospora parasite. She said a pair of antibiotics can cure the illness.
UPDATED 10:50 AM CDT Jul 18, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa Department of Public Health officials reported 102 cases of cyclospora have now been confirmed in Iowa.
While overall numbers are up, the rate of new cases being reported is down.
Officials said the onset dates of the illness suggest the ill people had eaten the contaminated food in mid-June.
"This is a very good indication the food which was the source of the outbreak has already been consumed or discarded, since fresh vegetables have a limited shelf life. At no time was an Iowa-grown fruit or vegetable suspected to be the cause of the outbreak," reads a statement from the department.
"We know fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) has been implicated in previous cyclospora outbreaks, and interviews with those who have been ill indicate vegetables were probably the source of this outbreak," said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk in the news release. "The illness onset dates, coupled with the shelf life of fresh produce, make it very likely the vegetable that was the source of the outbreak has already been eaten or thrown away, and will not cause anyone else to become ill."
Iowa Department of Public Health, CDC and local health agencies have been investigating the outbreak of an intestinal illness caused by cyclospora since last week.
On Tuesday, officials said 81 cases have been confirmed. On Monday, 71 confirmed cases have been reported while last Friday, the count was 45 cases and last Monday it was 22 cases.
"A normal, healthy person with a great immune system will have 57 days of diarrhea on average," said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk.
The outbreak includes confirmed cases in Linn County – 34 cases, Polk County – 9 cases, Pottawattamie County – 8 cases, Dallas County – 5 cases, Black Hawk County – 4 cases, Woodbury County – 4 cases, Boone County – 4 cases, Fayette County – 3 cases, O'Brien County – 3 cases, Buchanan – 3 cases, Webster County – 3 cases, Dubuque – 3 cases, Mills County – 2 cases, Des Moines County – 2 cases, Benton County – 1 case, Keokuk County – 1 case, Monona County – 1 case, Butler County – 1 case, Lucas County – 1 case, Poweshiek County – 1 case, Winneshiek County – 1 case, Johnson County – 1 case , Montgomery County – 1 case, Iowa County – 1 case , Van Buren County – 1 case, Story County – 1 case, Cedar County – 1 case, Dickinson County – 1 case, Plymouth County – 1 case.
Cases have also been reported in Nebraska and other Midwestern states.
Fresh produce has been identified as the source of previous outbreaks. Washing fresh produce is recommended; however, it can be very difficult to wash Cyclospora off all types of produce.
"It's sort of sticky. We do recommend that everybody wash their produce, fruits and vegetables thoroughly. But we do know from experience that will reduce the risk, but it may not take the risk away all together," said Quinlisk.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include: Watery diarrhea, fatigue (severe tiredness), loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, increased gas, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and low-grade fever.
If you have prolonged diarrhea, Quinlisk recommended asking your doctor to test you for the Cyclospora parasite. She said a pair of antibiotics can cure the illness.