More 'explosive diarrhea' cases reported in SC

Key Points:

• The U.S. has reported its first two deaths linked to the current cyclosporiasis outbreak, both in Michigan, involving individuals with significant underlying health issues potentially worsened by the infection and dehydration.
• South Carolina has seen a rise in cyclosporiasis cases with 37 confirmed in July alone, totaling 43 cases this year, distributed across the Upstate, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions, though these cases have not yet matched the outbreak strain.
• Health officials emphasize thorough washing of fruits and vegetables, cooking foods to safe temperatures, and proper hand hygiene as key preventive measures against Cyclospora infection.
• Cyclosporiasis, caused by the Cyclospora parasite, primarily leads to watery diarrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms, is usually not life-threatening, and is treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, although healthy individuals often recover without treatment.
• The parasite spreads through ingestion of contaminated food or water, with outbreaks often linked to fresh produce, and requires environmental maturation to become infectious, making direct person-to-person transmission unlikely.