A microscopic view of cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite that causes the intestinal illness. More than 30 cyclosporiasis cases have been reported in the Houston area as the CDC monitors rising U.S. infections.
The Houston area has seen more than 30 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection, that is currently being tracked across the U.S.
Although rising case counts in the U.S. are being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local officials say cases don’t appear to be on the rise in the Houston area.
“We have not identified an increased trend this year in the Houston-Harris County region compared to the past several years,” according to a news release. “We have not found a common source for our cases or any linkages between our local cases and other cases around the country, though our investigations will continue throughout the summer.”
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Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora cayetanensis, causing watery and explosive bowel movements.
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Houston and Texas cyclosporiasis cases
The Houston Health Department reported 16 confirmed cases in the city of Houston, according to a Wednesday news release.
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Additionally, there were 18 confirmed cases from Harris County Public Health, according to city health department officials.
As of June 16, the CDC reports 145 cases were reported in people who acquired cyclosporiasis in the United States. Cases were reported by 17 states and in individuals between the ages of 5 to 86 years.
A CDC map showed 11-30 cases in Texas as of mid-June. The highest concentration of cases was in the state of New York with 31 to 80.
In a Wednesday statement to the San Antonio Express-News, department officials from Texas Department of State Health Services said between May 1 and July 6, Texas has reported at least 48 cases of cyclosporiasis that match the CDC’s outbreak case definition.
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What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis, also known as cyclospora infection, is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora cayetanensis. People who consume food or water contaminated with the parasite can become infected.
Cyclosporiasis is usually not life-threatening, but cases tend to rise during the spring and summer months, making cyclosporiasis season run from May 1 through Aug. 31, according to the CDC.
The CDC reported 145 cases across 17 states since June 16, with 20 people hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The agency believes there are likely more cases because some people do not seek medical attention or get tested.
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What causes cyclosporiasis?
People become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the microscopic parasite cyclospora cayetanensis. Those who are infected usually become sick within about a week, but symptoms can begin anywhere from two days to two weeks or more after exposure, according to the CDC.
It takes about one to two weeks after being passed in a bowel movement for cyclospora to become infectious, making direct person-to-person transmission unlikely.
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Signs and symptoms of cyclosporiasis
Some people infected with cyclospora may not have symptoms. For those who do, symptoms can include watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.
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Although most healthy people recover without treatment, the CDC says anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a health care provider.