Hawaii is reporting cyclospora cases as the United States continues to record a historic surge in infections caused by the foodborne parasite, even as federal officials say recalled produce linked to the largest outbreak is no longer available to consumers. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), updated on Tuesday, shows 18,445 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases reported since May 1, compared with 17,180 confirmed cases last week, a rise of 1,265 cases. The agency says 49 states and the District of Columbia have now reported confirmed cases.
Hawaii had been one of only a handful of states absent from CDC's national map. However, Hawaii health officials previously told Newsweek that multiple cyclosporiasis infections have been confirmed in the state. Newsweek reached out to Hawaii's Department of Health by email for comment.
According to the most recent data, Michigan remains the hardest-hit state with between 4,000 and 6,999 cyclospora cases confirmed by the CDC. Hawaii is a new addition to the CDC map, with 1 to 49 cases confirmed. The most recent data from the CDC shows that cyclospora has been confirmed in all states except for Delaware, where officials previously told Newsweek that cases have occurred in the state, despite the CDC report.
"Delaware is not exempt from cyclospora activity this season. The state has identified 13 probable Cyclospora cases," Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Chief of Public Affairs Sean Dooley told Newsweek. "CDC’s national map shows zero confirmed cases for Delaware because confirmation requires whole‑genome sequencing, which is not routinely performed here.
Specimens from our three most recent cases have been sent to CDC for sequencing, and those results are still pending." The continuing rise in reported cases comes despite repeated assurances from federal regulators that iceberg lettuce tied to a major multistate outbreak has already moved out of the food supply. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC have said the recalled products' shelf lives have expired and that they should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. More than 11,400 illnesses across 20 states have been linked to the lettuce outbreak as of August 27, including 495 hospitalizations and two deaths.
In addition, the CDC says it is investigating multiple cyclospora clusters beyond the outbreak linked to processed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, meaning some newly reported cases could be associated with separate outbreaks whose sources have not yet been identified. Health officials say rising case counts do not necessarily mean new exposures are occurring at the same rate. Cyclospora surveillance is subject to significant reporting delays, and the CDC notes that it can take about six weeks from symptom onset for a case to be diagnosed, investigated and entered into national surveillance systems.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
