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Canada’s public health agency has issued a notice to the public advising that a current cyclospora outbreak is under investigation.
According to Health Canada, a total of 51 cases have been reported including one in British Columbia. Canadians report becoming sick from the cyclospora infections in four provinces, but the source of the outbreak has yet to be identified.
Cyclospora is a microscopic single-celled parasite that is passed in people's feces. If it comes in contact with food or water, it can infect the people who consume it. This causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis.
People report becoming sick between May and July 2016 and the majority of cases involved men with an average age of 49 years old. One person has been hospitalized as a result and officials confirm that the outbreak has not been linked to produce grown in Canada.
Previous foodborne illness outbreaks of cyclospora in Canada and U.S. have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce, such as pre-packaged salad mix, basil, cilantro, raspberries, blackberries, mesclun lettuce and snow and snap peas.
It can be hard to prevent cyclosporiasis. This is because washing produce does not always get rid of the parasite that causes the illness. People infected with cyclospora can experience a wide range of symptoms, most resembling a bad case of stomach flu.
Most people develop the following symptoms within one week after being infected with cyclospora:
- watery diarrhea
- abdominal bloating and gas
- fatigue (tiredness)
- stomach cramps
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- mild fever
- nausea
If you become ill, drink plenty of water or fluids to prevent dehydration from diarrhea. If you have signs of illness and have reason to believe you have cyclosporiasis, call your health care provider.
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