By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on a report two weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an additional 254 additional domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases since July 14, bringing the total cases in the US to 462 laboratory-confirmed cases in people who had no history of international travel.

Four Cyclospora oocysts from fresh stool stained using a modified acid-fast stain.
Image/CDC (DPDx)

Cases have been reported from 28 states and New York City. At least 41 people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.

No common source has yet been found. Previous U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce, including basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries, and snow peas.

CDC, along with state and federal health and regulatory officials, monitor cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States in the spring and summer months to detect outbreaks linked to a common food source. However, many cases of cyclosporiasis cannot be directly linked to an outbreak, in part because of the lack of validated laboratory “fingerprinting” methods needed to link cases of Cyclospora infection. Officials use questionnaires to interview sick people to determine what they ate in the 14-day period before illness onset. If a commonality is found, CDC and partners work quickly to determine if a contaminated food product is still available in stores or in peoples’ homes and issue advisories.