By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on the Cyclospora outbreak linked to bagged salads purchased from Aldi, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco stores, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an update in the investigation today.

Officials now report there have been 122 ill people reported from 7 states: Illinois (30), Iowa (54), Kansas (1), Minnesota (13), Missouri (7) Nebraska (8), and Wisconsin (9). 19 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that ALDI Little Salad Bar brand Garden Salad, Hy-Vee brand Garden Salad, or Jewel-Osco brand Signature Farms Brand Garden Salad are a likely source of this outbreak.

CDC urges the public to not eat, sell, or serve the recalled salads:

  • Recalled ALDI Little Salad Bar brand Garden Salad sold in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin
  • Recalled Hy-Vee brand 12-ounce bagged Garden Salad sold in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
  • Recalled Jewel-Osco Signature Farms brand 12-ounce bagged Garden Salad sold in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa

Symptoms of Cyclospora infection start an average of 7 days (range of 2 days to 2 weeks) after swallowing the sporulated oocysts (the infective form of the parasite).

Cyclospora oocysts
Oocysts of C. cayetanensis viewed under differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy.
Image/CDC DPDx

Symptoms may include watery diarrhea (most common), loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, fatigue, vomiting (less common), and low-grade fever (less common).

Without treatment, symptoms can persist for several weeks to a month.

Some symptoms, such as diarrhea, can return. Some symptoms, such as fatigue, may continue after the gastrointestinal symptoms have gone away.

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), sold under the trade names Bactrim, Septra, and Cotrim, is the usual therapy for Cyclospora infection. No highly effective alternative antibiotic regimen has been identified yet for patients who do not respond to the standard treatment or have a sulfa allergy.