Oklahoma cyclosporiasis cases hit 172, OSDH says
Oklahoma health officials report that cases of cyclosporiasis have risen to 172, with 12 hospitalizations. The intestinal illness is linked to consuming contaminated produce, particularly fresh herbs and leafy greens.
Why it matters
The rapid tripling of cases highlights a significant public health concern regarding food safety and the seasonal nature of parasitic outbreaks.
Cyclosporiasis cases have increased to 172 in Oklahoma, according to new data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
The data, which was released Tuesday, shows that 170 cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing. Two probable cases were identified based on the patients' symptoms and contact with a product that made transmission of the parasite possible.
Of those confirmed cases, 12 people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths reported in Oklahoma.
OSDH data shows that the median age of the patients in Oklahoma is 40. Of those who have contracted cyclosporiasis, 55% are women and 45% are men.
Last week, there were 56 cases of the parasite in Oklahoma. The number of patients has more than tripled.
Initial numbers released from OSDH on Tuesday did not include all case information. The numbers initially indicated that 116 cases were identified in Oklahoma, not 172.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in