Centers for Disease Control is sending disease investigators to Ohio to provide support to the Ohio Department of Health in tracing cyclosporiasis cases as Ohio continues to be among the hardest-hit states for the gastrointestinal illness.CDC, at the request of the Ohio Department of Health, is deploying a number of its disease detectives to the state to assist with the cyclosporiasis investigation there. The team is expected to be in Ohio for 3 weeks, a statement from the CDC reads.Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by Cyclospora, which is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, according to the CDC.The most recent number of cases in Ohio is 2,574, according to the Ohio Department of Health, with more than 90% of those cases being reported after June 20.Hamilton County has reported 17 cases, Clermont County has two, Warren County has five, Butler County has eight and Highland County has one case, according to ODH.
Montgomery County, where Dayton is, has 27 cases.Deployed CDC staff will conduct interviews of persons who tested positive for Cyclospora to assess symptoms and collect exposure histories, analyze interview data to identify common exposure locations and foods, identify case clusters, and coordinate with federal response teams on multi-state outbreak tracing efforts, the CDC stated.The request was made through the CDCs Epi-Aid program.Epi-Aid allows rapid response by CDCs Epidemic Intelligence Service officers in investigating urgent public health problems, such as infectious and non-communicable disease outbreaks, unexplained illnesses, or natural or manmade disasters, according to the CDC.The focus of an Epi-Aid investigation is to assist partners in making decisions to prevent and control the public health problem, according to the CDC.Federal health officials remain focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms, an iceberg lettuce supplier used by some Taco Bell locations, as the source of a multistate outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite, despite inaccurate test results, according to the Associated Press. Food and Drug Administration officials said a laboratory test incorrectly identified a p…
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