Tag: CDC

Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak Hits 20 States: Full List of Affected Areas

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A parasite that causes explosive, watery diarrhea has sickened 145 people across 20 US states, prompting an ongoing investigation by federal and state health officials into the source of the outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cases were reported between May and June 16 and involve patients ranging in age from 5 to 86 years old. So far, 20 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Breaking It Down What is Shigella and how does it spread? What are the symptoms of Shigella infection? How are health authorities responding to the outbreak in Wayanad? Created with AI. Health officials believe the illnesses are linked to contaminated food because none of the patients reported recent international travel.

However, investigators have not yet identified the exact source. The parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, causes cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness that commonly leads to explosive, watery diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Symptoms usually appear about a week after infection and mainly affect the intestines, although some infected people may not develop symptoms. The CDC said local, state, and federal public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases spanning multiple states. Officials also noted that the true number of infections may be higher because some cases may not have been diagnosed.

List of 20 States Affected By The Outbreak The CDC has reported cases in the following states and Washington, DC:

  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin
  • Illinois
  • Georgia
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
  • Colorado
  • Alaska
  • Washington DC

Among the affected areas, New York has reported the highest number of cases, with between 31 and 80 infections, followed by Texas and Illinois, which have each recorded between 11 and 30 cases. While cyclosporiasis can resolve on its own, symptoms may last for a month or longer if left untreated, increasing the risk of dehydration. The CDC says the infection is typically treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim. The agency also recommends following safe food handling and storage practices. Previous US outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh produce, including cilantro, raspberries, sweet peas, mesclun lettuce and basil.

Source: Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak Hits 20 States: Full List of Affected Areas | Times Now

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ER Visits Surge and Experts Urge Caution amid Record Tick Season

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brown and black ticks on yellow flower

The current tick season is reported to be the worst in decades, with emergency room visits for bites and cases of Lyme disease increasing. According to the CDC, 71 out of every 100,000 emergency room visits were for tick bites, which is a 25% increase over last year. This figure excludes visits to urgent care facilities and doctors’ offices. Each year, about 500,000 Americans contract Lyme disease from tick bites, and a majority of people fully recover from the bacterial infection following earlier detection and proper treatment with antibiotics, CBN News reported. On the other hand, roughly 20 percent of these infections are elusive from early detection, resulting in severe joint pain, vision problems, neurological issues, hospitalization, and death.

“Definitely it’s a big year for ticks and a big year for tick-borne diseases,” Johns Hopkins infectious disease microbiologist Thomas M. Hart, PhD.  Hart, along with Johns Hopkins scientist Nicole Baumgarth, DVM, PhD, is also warning of additional tick-borne diseases beyond Lyme disease. “I’m thinking about Babesiosis, an increasing disease of a small parasite that infects red blood cells and threatens the safety of our blood supply,” she said, “or Alpha-Gal syndrome, an allergic reaction to eating red meat.” Additional tick-borne diseases include: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Powassan Virus, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis, and Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever. According to experts, tick bite prevention recommendations include covering up in tall grass/wooded areas and tucking pants into socks. It is also recommended to use bug spray and wear light clothing.  “When you come inside from doing high-risk activities, so these are going to be things like hiking, golfing, gardening, do a thorough tick check, and then shower immediately to wash off any ticks that might have sort of caught a ride,” Hart said.

Source: ER Visits Surge and Experts Urge Caution amid Record Tick Season – Milton Quintanilla | Crosswalk.com

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