Clark County resident contracted cyclosporiasis outside of state, says Southern Nevada Health District

A Clark County resident acquired cyclosporiasis during travel outside of Nevada, health officials say.

The individual traveled to two states associated with the ongoing multistate outbreak — which has infected more than 3,000 people — during the likely exposure period before returning to Clark County, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.

Cyclosporiasis is a food- and waterborne illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People become infected by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, especially fresh produce tainted with feces.

The health district said sporadic local cases of cyclosporiasis are reported each year, and that none of the cases identified in Clark County so far have been linked to the multistate outbreak under investigation.

Five cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in Clark County this year, the health district said. There is no indication of increased local transmission, it said.

Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of at least 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, but more than 5,100 were requiring “further analysis” to confirm whether the illness was contracted within the United States.

“While this individual likely became infected while traveling outside Nevada, the Southern Nevada Health District is actively monitoring the national outbreak and remains prepared to respond should additional cases be identified,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, district health officer for the health district. “Foodborne illness outbreaks can occur anywhere in the food supply chain, which is why practicing safe food handling every day is important. We encourage residents to wash fresh produce thoroughly, follow safe food preparation practices, and contact a health care provider if they develop persistent, watery diarrhea after travel or consuming fresh produce.”

Cases of the intestinal infection have surged in recent days with 34 states reporting infections, including Michigan, which had 3,309 cases as of Tuesday and first reported its outbreak in May.

The CDC said in an update earlier this month that four states may be in connection with this outbreak: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.

No deaths have been reported, but 94 people have been hospitalized.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s traceback investigation found that California-based Taylor Farms supplied shredded iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell locations where people who became sick said they had eaten before their symptoms began. Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled specific iceberg lettuce products sourced from a farm in Mexico.

The FDA initially reported a positive laboratory finding in one lettuce sample but revealed over the weekend that it was actually a false positive.

There are no confirmed product samples for Cyclospora, the health district said. Shredded iceberg lettuce from this source was not reported to have been distributed in Nevada, officials added.

Experts have made general recommendations to avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables to be safe.

Michigan health officials said current evidence at the state level points to lettuce or other salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak, Reuters reported Tuesday.

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis typically begin about one week after exposure but can develop anywhere from two days to 2 weeks after consuming a contaminated item.

The health district said common symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea and fatigue. Less common symptoms can also show as a low-grade fever and vomiting.

To help reduce the risk of illness, the health district recommends people wash hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food; rinse fresh fruits and raw vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them; and avoid consuming food or water that may be contaminated.

The health district also urges the public to cook food thoroughly to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit when possible to kill Cyclospora parasites. Anyone experiencing prolonged diarrhea or other symptoms should contact their healthcare provider, as cyclosporiasis can be diagnosed through laboratory testing and is treated with antibiotics.

The health district said it conducts routine surveillance for cyclosporiasis and will continue working with state and federal public health partners to investigate reported cases and monitor for any potential connections to the ongoing multistate outbreak.