U.S. Cyclosporiasis Outbreak May be Slowing But Cases Still Trending Up in Arkansas

New testing data suggest the country’s unusually large cyclosporiasis outbreak may be easing, but health experts say case counts remain high and the true scope may still be underestimated.

New laboratory trends are offering cautious hope that the largest recorded U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak may be beginning to slow. Health experts, however, say the outbreak remains significant and that consumers should continue to take food-safety precautions.

Meanwhile, the Arkansas Department of Health released an update on the number of cases reported in the state. As of Monday, 173 cases were reported, up from 126 cases last week. Benton County including the Bentonville/Rogers area has the majority of cases at 108 while 17 cases are reported in Washington County including the Fayetteville/Springdale area. 

Six Lakes Region Counties have reported cases with Boone County, including the Harrison area, having the third most in the state at 10. Other counties with at least one confirmed case including Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, and Searcy. 

The illness is caused by Cyclospora, a parasite that can spread through contaminated food or water. Symptoms can include prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite, and infections may last for weeks without treatment.

The Arkansas Department of Health advises people to take steps in preventing exposure including washing hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables, washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking, cutting away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating. and refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables within two hours.

(This article was written in part from information generated from A.I. from the CDC)