Ohio cyclosporiasis cases top 1,200
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The number of cyclosporiasis cases in Ohio has ballooned beyond 1,200 in about a month, including a few dozen in Franklin County, per an Ohio Department of Health dashboard.
Caveat: Actual case numbers are likely much higher because of delayed federal health tracking and limited testing. Michigan and Ohio are currently most affected.
Catch up quick: Federal health officials attribute the "explosive diarrhea" outbreak to contaminated shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell in five states, including Ohio.
- A Cleveland-area man has filed a lawsuit against one store.
- News reports link the lettuce to supplier Taylor Farms.
The latest: The FDA said Sunday that a Taylor Farms sample flagged as positive for cyclospora was a false positive, leaving no confirmed positive product test although the voluntary recall still stands.
Threat level: Cyclosporiasis doesn't spread from person-to-person or "'run its course' the way a stomach bug typically does," HealthTrack chief medical officer Steven Goldberg tells Axios. Symptoms may improve and then return.
- "This is not a 'wait it out' illness."
If you suspect you have it, ask a health care provider to order a specific stool test to confirm, the Ohio Department of Health tells Axios. Routine tests don't include it.
- The illness is "highly treatable with antibiotics," but "delaying diagnosis and treatment could result in dehydration and related complications."
What's next: The department's dashboard is updated each Thursday afternoon.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the FDA's finding that an earlier positive lettuce sample from Taylor Farms was a false positive.