JACKSON, Wyo. — A national outbreak of Cyclospora diarrhea includes a number of cases in Teton County.
According to Kim Deti, public information officer with the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), of the 23 cases reported to the WDH in late May and early June, 22 are Teton County residents.
“No source has been identified,” Deti told Buckrail. “Genetic sequencing suggests this outbreak is related to an outbreak in Colorado.”
Dr. Jim Little from St. John’s Health confirmed Teton County has been experiencing cases of Cyclospora diarrhea, but as of July, Deti says the WDH does not have evidence to suggest this outbreak is ongoing.
According to the CDC, Cyclospora diarrhea is caused by a parasite that creates an intestinal infection and is spread by people ingesting food or water that was contaminated with feces. In the U.S., outbreaks of Cyclospora diarrhea have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce.
The CDC confirms people can get infected more than once. Symptoms include:
- Watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Stomach cramps/pain
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms like body aches, headache and fever
The CDC notes some people who are infected do not have any symptoms. If not treated, the illness can last from a few days to a month or longer, with symptoms seemingly going away and then returning one or more times.
Rachael Wheeler, public health response coordinator with the Teton County Health Department, says the County has been working with the WDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit about the local cases.
While no public notice has been issued in Teton County, Wheeler says Teton County is planning on issuing a community-wide notification about preventative measures for a number of food and water-born illnesses, including Norovirus, that are affecting people right now.
