Ohio among states reporting stomach parasite infections
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Ohio is one of 17 states with reported cases of a gut-wrecking parasite that's plaguing the U.S. as health officials investigate what's driving an increase in cases.
The big picture: The gastrointestinal illness — called cyclosporiasis — is caused by a microscopic parasite spreading through contaminated food.
- The infection typically spreads during the summer months, but some states are seeing a surge in cases beyond the usual reported incidents, raising questions about what's causing the outbreak.
- Health officials do not consider cyclosporiasis to be life-threatening. Symptoms, which include "explosive" or "watery" diarrhea, can last for a few days or even a month or longer without any treatment, the CDC says. Some symptoms, like diarrhea, may disappear but then return.
By the numbers: At least 145 cases across 17 states were officially acquired in the U.S. between May 1 and June 16, per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The CDC puts the number of cases in Ohio at between one and 10 as of June 16.
Reality check: The CDC's nationwide case totals are current through mid-June, but states are already reporting much higher figures of their own.
- The Ohio Department of Health's data lists more than 30 cases reported since May 1, including several in Northeast Ohio.
What they're saying: "The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis was likely higher than the number reported," the CDC notes.
Case in point: In Michigan, the number of documented cases jumped from 170 on July 1 — which is more than triple the number usually reported in the state each year — to 572 by July 4.
What we're watching: It remains unclear if multiple outbreaks are happening at once, if any imported produce is suspected and if Michigan's outbreak is separate from the national rise.
- "There is currently no evidence of a single, multistate cyclospora outbreak linking all cases," the CDC says. "Investigations to identify potential sources are ongoing."