Cyclospora in Salads Sickens Dozens in Illinois

 Posted on June 28, 2020 in Cyclospora

More than 200 people in the midwestern U.S. have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis after eating packaged salads sold in grocery stores. Illinois is one of the states that has been most affected by the cyclospora outbreak, with at least 57 people having been diagnosed from May 11 to June 17. The contamination has been traced to Fresh Express salad packages that contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. The product goes by different names depending on where the product is sold, including:

• ALDI Little Salad Bar Garden Salads
• Hy-Vee Garden Salad
• Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Garden Salad
• Walmart Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still investigating whether there are additional contaminated Fresh Express salad packages that are sold under other names.

Dangers of Cyclosporiasis

At least 23 of the people recently diagnosed with cyclosporiasis have been hospitalized because of the severity of their symptoms. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by consuming food or drink that contains the cyclospora parasite. Cyclospora is most commonly found in produce that is grown in tropical climates, where the parasite is most prevalent and can spread from the feces of humans and animals who have it.

Cyclosporiasis typically takes a week to develop after consuming the parasite, though you may start noticing symptoms in as soon as two days or as long as two weeks. Common symptoms include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Slight fever

If cyclosporiasis is not treated, a person can continue to suffer symptoms for months, with cycles of getting better followed by a return of symptoms. It is common for people with cyclosporiasis to feel fatigued and dehydrated. Physicians diagnose cyclosporiasis by testing your stool sample and may treat it by prescribing an antibiotic, along with ordering you to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

Contact an Illinois Food Poisoning Lawyer

You need to immediately visit a doctor if you are suffering from symptoms that suggest you may be a victim of food poisoning. If the doctor diagnoses you with cyclosporiasis, you should contact an Illinois food poisoning attorney at Newland & Newland, LLP. We can work with you on determining what food you ate in recent weeks may have been contaminated with cyclospora and then filing a lawsuit against the liable party. Schedule a consultation by calling 312-981-0409.

Source:

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-cyclospora-bagged-salads-june-2020

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/gen_info/faqs.html#:~:text=Cyclospora%20is%20spread%20by%20people,become%20infectious%20for%20another%20person.