SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – A Florida Department of Health (FDOH) report lists 50 confirmed or probable cyclosporiasis cases under the selected report criteria, including several in counties near the Suncoast.
The highest listed count is in Lee County, where the report shows 9 cases. Miami-Dade County follows with 6 cases, and Broward County has 5.
Hillsborough County has 2 listed cases. Pinellas County has 1.
Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties do not appear among the counties listed with case counts in the report.
The report does not identify a source of exposure or a common link among the cases. It also does not show where people may have become ill, been exposed or been diagnosed.
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According to the Florida Department of Health report, cases are assigned to counties based on a person’s county of residence at the time of disease identification. The department said the numbers are preliminary and may change as case reports are investigated and validated.
Nationally, at least one state has reported more than 700 cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to the parasite, a count that quadrupled from roughly 170 in less than a week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said several hundred cases have been reported since May 1, but the actual number is likely higher. At least 20 people have been hospitalized.
Health officials said there is currently no evidence of a single outbreak linking all the cases.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a single-cell parasite that can contaminate fresh produce through water.
Dr. Ronald Andari, a gastroenterologist with Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, said the primary symptom is diarrhea, which he described as explosive, along with loose stools, increased volume, abdominal cramps and nausea.
“This is a parasitic infection. It’s a food-borne illness,” Andari said. “It’s transmitted by uncooked foods, specifically raw vegetables and fruits.”
Andari said patients experiencing severe or persistent diarrhea should contact their primary care physician or gastroenterologist. Anyone with concerns about dehydration should go to the emergency room.
“If it’s a lot of diarrhea, they absolutely need to go to the ER, if there’s any concerns for dehydration,” Andari said.
Andari said the illness is treatable and may require antibiotics, making prompt diagnosis important. Stool testing is typically used to confirm the infection.
Andari said prevention starts with thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables with an extensive amount of water, washing hands, and cleaning cutting boards and food preparation surfaces. He said hand sanitizer alone is not effective.
“Early diagnosis so we can prevent problems in the future” is paramount, Andari said.
For more information, visit the Florida Department of Health’s website.
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