Cyclospora multistate outbreak sickens 400-plus as White House tracks it
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The White House said Thursday it is closely monitoring a growing multi-state outbreak of the parasite that has sickened more than 400 people as federal health officials race to identify contaminated food behind the illnesses.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to trace the outbreak to its source and insisted that agencies have the resources they need despite questions about recent staffing changes.
“We are committed to providing the CDC and FDA with the resources they need,” Leavitt told reporters. “Most importantly, [we’re working to] “We have been tracing the outbreak back to its original source and are currently in the process of doing so.”
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a news conference Thursday in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The outbreak has raised concerns because researchers still haven’t identified the contaminated food, leaving consumers without a specific product to avoid as federal and state officials try to track illnesses through patient interviews and food supply records.
The White House’s comments came a day after the CDC warned it was investigating a large cyclosporiasis outbreak that sickened more than 400 people in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. The actual number of illnesses is likely much higher because most infected people never seek testing or medical care, the agency said.
The CDC said the outbreak appears to have accelerated since May and is simultaneously investigating several additional clusters of cyclospora infections across the country. Public health officials are interviewing patients about everything they ate in the two weeks before they became ill as they work to identify the source.
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The CDC said the outbreak appears to have accelerated since May. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo, File)
Although researchers have not linked the outbreak to a specific food, cyclospora infections have historically been associated with fresh produce, including leafy greens, herbs, and berries. Authorities say identifying the contaminated material remains the top priority of the investigation.
Cyclospora is not usually life-threatening, but the CDC warns that some people can become seriously ill and require hospitalization.
The CDC urges consumers to wash fresh produce thoroughly under running water, cook food if possible, and stay hydrated if symptoms occur. (Jeff Amy/AP Photo, File)
Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure and may include prolonged watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, and weight loss. If left untreated, the disease can last for weeks or even longer.
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The CDC urges consumers to wash fresh produce thoroughly under running water, cook food if possible, and drink fluids if symptoms occur. It was also stated that if diarrhea continues, you should consult a healthcare professional.
Because routine stool tests do not always screen for cyclospora, officials say patients may need to request testing specifically for the parasite.
