A podium with the logo for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Tom Harkin Global Communications Center on October 5, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has added four additional states to the link of U.S. states that have been impacted by the outbreak of cyclosporiasis traced to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.
Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were added to the list of affected states, according to the Washington Post, citing people close to the investigation. They join Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia who have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis illnesses.
The report said the patients likely became ill around the same time as those identified in the initial group of affected states, but investigators only recently determined they were part of the same outbreak.
RELATED: Cyclosporiasis cases by state: Foodborne parasitic illness continues to spread
Cyclosporiasis outbreak
The backstory:
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora. Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure and may include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, cramping, nausea and a fever.
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The FDA initially said a sample of the Taylor Farms’ lettuce did test positive for the parasite after the supplier pulled all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico heading to the United States. However, they later said samples of lettuce that were collected should be considered a false positive.
RELATED: Cyclosporiasis update: 31 states now investigating diarrheal illness
Dig deeper:
Unlike pathogens such as salmonella or E. coli, which can be sequenced and matched through national databases, cyclospora cannot be traced using those same methods. Scientists have to take genetic material from the organism and make synthetic copies of the DNA, which could lead to a false positive, as we saw in the case with Taylor Farms.
RELATED: CDC: Cyclosporiasis outbreak grows to 4,100 cases, 7,500 more unconfirmed
The CDC urged doctors to start testing for cyclospora to make sure people are treated properly. With the publicity that has been generated by the recent outbreak of cyclospora, experts say more people are likely seeking out testing.
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