The Mississippi State Department of Health announced Friday that five cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in the state.
At a press conference in Jackson, health department officials confirmed that the total count had risen from two reported cases earlier in the day. The illness, caused by the microscopic Cyclospora parasite, is described as a gastrointestinal illness characterized by severe diarrhea and other bowel issues.
The parasite is believed to be associated with contaminated produce, such as lettuce and various berries, and originated from shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in the Midwest.
“Yesterday (Thursday), the CDC linked shredded iceberg lettuce that had been served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia to the multi-state outbreak,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Renia Dotson. “The MSDH is continuing to monitor the situation and will work closely with the CDC as additional information becomes available.”
The department did not release the specific counties where the cases were confirmed but said the cases were reported in the Delta, Gulf Coast, and Pine Belt regions. The MSDH says there is not much in the way of treatment, so they urge residents to be wary of what they eat.
“There is no prophylactic treatment at this time,” Dotson said. “I just think that if you start to feel symptoms and if you know you consumed some of those products, report symptoms early so that you can get treatment early; but there is no formal dedication that we are offering that will prevent it.
“Prevention is key. Washing your hands, washing your vegetables, making sure the vegetables are cooked, staying away from shredded lettuce products. I think the most important thing for Mississippians to know is that it is not transmittable from person-to-person. You have to ingest it.”
