Cyclosporiasis Cases Reach Nearly 3,000 Nationally

Why it matters locally: While no specific impact on Georgia has been reported, the national increase in cyclosporiasis cases underscores the importance of food safety practices that public health agencies in Georgia, such as the Department of Public Health, also promote.

---

State health officials have reported nearly 3,000 cases of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness, across the United States. Eighty-six individuals sickened by the foodborne parasite have required hospitalization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cyclosporiasis causes symptoms including severe, watery diarrhea. Public health agencies are investigating the sources of the infections. The CDC collects data on cyclosporiasis cases from state health departments. This surveillance informs public health responses and efforts to identify contaminated food items.