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OMAHA — A “rapid increase” in infections of the parasite cyclospora among residents of Nebraska’s most populous county prompted the Douglas County Health Department to issue an alert Monday.
Douglas County officials said 12 out of 27 confirmed cases were reported in the past four days, prompting a public health investigation.
The county said it is working with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine if the county cases are related to the ongoing multistate cyclospora outbreak.
Douglas County epidemiologists identified eating at Taco Bell as the most common exposure among people interviewed to date, with nearly two-thirds of that group reported eating at Taco Bell during the two weeks before becoming ill. The county said it has shared the findings with state and federal partners as it continues to determine whether local cases are associated with the ongoing multistate outbreak.
Federal officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of the infection linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan Ohio and West Virginia.
A spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that since May, Nebraska has identified 91 cases of cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by the parasite. Jeff Powell said that DHHS is working with federal and local public health partners to determine if any local cases share exposures linking cases together. At this time, he said, there have been no confirmed local cases related to the national outbreak.
The news release from the Douglas County Health Department did not specify any particular store or site of reported infections, and a spokesman for the department said the investigation is ongoing to help determine a local source.
“Cyclospora is not uncommon during the summer months; however, the number of cases reported over the past several days is higher than we would typically expect in such a short period of time,” said Dr. Justin Frederick, deputy health director and chief of epidemiology and preparedness for Douglas County.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. People typically become ill about a week after consuming contaminated food or water. The illness does not spread from one person to another. Common symptoms include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss, stomach cramps and bloating, nausea, fatigue and low-grade fever.
Cyclospora can cause illness that lingers for weeks if left untreated, said Dr. Lindsay Huse, county health director. She said anyone experiencing prolonged diarrhea should contact their healthcare provider, as she said that early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce complications. Infection can be effectively treated with prescription antibiotics, the county said.
According to the CDC, Taylor Farms started a recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, including those sold at retail stores and restaurants.
The FDA said Monday that a false positive of cyclospora announced over the weekend from a sample of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce does not change the basis for the agency’s ongoing investigation.
People with questions can contact Douglas County Health Department at 402-444-7471.
