US cyclospora outbreak tops 1,600 confirmed cases, CDC says

WASHINGTON: Laboratory-confirmed cases tied to a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States have climbed to 1,645, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update issued on Tuesday.

The agency said the total rose by more than 800 cases from its previous update a week earlier. Infections have now been reported in 34 states. As of July 13, the outbreak had led to 141 hospitalisations, while no deaths had been reported.

According to the CDC, cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite and can be contracted through food or water contaminated with feces, particularly raw fruits and vegetables. The United States has seen outbreaks of the illness before, but health officials said this year’s outbreak is much larger and more geographically widespread than earlier episodes.

The CDC also warned that the case count is likely to keep rising because there is about a six-week delay between when illness begins and when cases are reported. That means additional infections may be identified as more data becomes available. The agency said it is also aware of ongoing investigations connected to the outbreak.