The Fulton County Board of Health is urging Johns Creek families to wash their fresh produce thoroughly as a national outbreak of a foodborne parasitic illness reaches 34 states, with more than a dozen cases already confirmed in Georgia.
The county health board published an advisory Monday, July 13, warning residents to take extra precautions when purchasing, preparing, and eating fresh fruits and vegetables to prevent cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora. Tiffany Daggett, communications specialist for the Fulton County Board of Health, posted the advisory on the agency's website.
The national numbers are climbing fast. As of July 15, federal and state health officials have confirmed 1,645 cases across 34 states, with more than 5,100 suspected cases under investigation, according to USA Today. More than 80 people have been hospitalized. The CDC said it is investigating a large multistate outbreak concentrated in at least four midwestern states, though a specific food source has not been confirmed.
Michigan health officials identified leafy lettuce or salad greens as a leading suspected source based on interviews with more than 1,000 patients. Federal investigators are also examining a possible link to Taco Bell restaurants, according to the Washington Post, though no specific supplier has been identified.
Georgia has not been spared. WSB-TV reported over a dozen confirmed cases in the state as of its July 13 broadcast. The Georgia Department of Public Health said it is not aware of any Georgia-specific outbreaks or clusters linked to the national surge.
"So the safest thing we can do is wash your produce — you really want to wash it," Dr. Sujatha Reddy of Northside Hospital in Atlanta told WSB-TV.
The CDC considers the annual cyclosporiasis season to run from May 1 through Aug. 31.
What to watch for
Symptoms include watery diarrhea, bloating, cramping, and loss of appetite. The illness can last from a few days to more than a month, and symptoms may disappear and return. The Fulton County advisory noted that hospitalizations can occur when patients become dehydrated.
How to reduce risk
The advisory lists six prevention steps:
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables.
- Wash all produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
- Wash produce even if the label says "pre-washed."
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables like melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away damaged or bruised areas before preparing or eating.
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked produce within two hours.
Past U.S. outbreaks have been linked to bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas, and green onions, according to the CDC. Residents with questions can call the Fulton County Board of Health at 770-520-7500.
