(Des Moines) The Iowa Health and Human Services reported 226 cases of Cyclosporiasis in the state. That’s about 150 cases more than this time last year.
Cases have been reported in 48 Iowa counties, with 47 patients also reporting that they recently traveled internationally.
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a small parasite called Cyclospora. Symptoms generally start one week after exposure and include frequent bowel movements, bloating, weight loss, and nausea. It can be treated with antibiotics.
The CDC says there have been more than 67-hundred cases of laboratory-confirmed domestic Cyclospora in the U.S. since May 1, but more than 11-thousand additional cases have not been confirmed in a lab or need further investigation.
Iowa HHS recommends rinsing all produce, especially iceberg lettuce, and cooking it to at least 158 degrees to avoid the Cyclospora parasite.
