How to best avoid the diarrhea-causing parasite known as cyclospora
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A warm-weather stomach bug known as cyclospora is making more people sick this summer than usual.
Dr. Martha Buchanan with the SC Department of Public Health says there are around 10 reported cases of cyclosporiasis so far this year across South Carolina.
“So cyclospora is a parasite that we get when we ingest food or water that’s contaminated. It’s more common in countries where they don’t have very good sanitation than it is in the United States but it does happen here,” she says.
Other states have reported unusual spikes. State health officials in Michigan say there have been over 700 reported cases there in the last two weeks — and in New York and North Carolina — over 100.
“And it takes about a week after you’ve been exposed for symptoms to present. Symptoms may go away on their own, symptoms are primarily watery diarrhea, you may have some cramping, you may have some bloating, you might have some nausea and vomiting, but really diarrhea is the primary symptom,” says Dr. Buchanan.
The single-cell parasite is found in contaminated water — and can be contracted by by swallowing lake water or by not properly washing fresh produce.
“Wash your fruits and vegetables carefully, run them under water, if it’s a fruit or even a melon that you’re gonna maybe peel, you might want to wash off the outside so you don’t introduce some of the parasite into the melon,” she says, adding to always wash your hands after preparing food. Cooking also kills the parasite.
If you think you’ve caught it, try to stay hydrated — for most people, Dr. Buchanan says it’ll run its course over a few days, but be sure to contact your healthcare provider if symptoms persist.
“The way to avoid this is being thoughtful about what you put in your mouth. Try not to drink that lake water when you go swimming, and make sure you wash your fruits and vegetables,” she says.
