OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Cyclospora cases in Douglas County continue to rise, with the Douglas County Health Department having tallied the cases at 45.
A release from the DCHD says this is an increase from the previous report of 27. Nebraska’s current cases have not been officially counted as part of the ongoing multistate outbreak, the DCHD is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to find out whether the cases in Douglas County are associated with the same contaminated lettuce.
The CDC and the FDA determined that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico is the most probable cause of the multistate outbreak, based on their epidemiological and product traceback investigations. Investigations are underway to determine if the cases in Douglas County are coming from the same contaminated product.
Public health investigations evolve as new information becomes available. Although Nebraska has not been officially included in the multistate outbreak, we continue working closely with our state and federal partners to determine whether our local cases are linked to the same contaminated product. Our priority is identifying the source of illness, preventing additional infections, and keeping the public informed as the investigation progresses.
Symptoms and what to do if you feel sick
The parasite is primarily associated with bagged iceberg lettuce. Symptoms can begin about a week after consuming infected lettuce and include:
- Frequent watery diarrhea
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Stomach cramps and bloating
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
Anyone who believes they may be infected is encouraged to get tested. Cases can also be self-reported on the Douglas County Health Department website.
How to reduce your risk
“In this particular case, Cyclospora is best dealt with by cooking,” Health Director Dr. Lindsay Huse said. “So if you are going to cook your produce, it doesn’t necessarily matter where you get it — you are going to cook it out.”
For those dining out, Dr. Huse recommended asking servers where the restaurant sources its lettuce. For fast food, she advised requesting that lettuce be left off orders for the time being.
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