Cyclosporiasis affects over 50 people in Canada
Officials in four provinces are trying to track the outbreak of this intestinal infection.
More than 44 people have been reported to be suffering from cyclospora parasite in Ontario, four in Quebec, two in Alberta and one in British Columbia.
Although the source of the outbreak is under investigation, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other health officials have said that imported produce could be a likely cause.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is of the opinion that this disease is caused by various types of fresh produce (imported berries, lettuce, salad mixes, cilantro, basil and green peas).
Health officials said the cyclospora parasite is commonly found in Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, India and Southeast Asia.
Most of Canada’s fresh produce are imported from these countries, which is now a cause for concern among the food and health officials.
The germ gets passed in the human poop and spreads through contaminated food or water. It may result in serious cases of diarrhoea, abdominal bloating to mild fever, muscle aches, loss of appetite, followed by nausea and weight loss.
According to a release from the Public Health Agency of Canada, symptoms of this disease are not always evident. At times, people report of no specific symptoms, while for some, it is a severe case of stomach flu.
Physicians say symptoms typically appear about a week after ingestion of the parasite. If untreated, the symptoms may last a week to more than a month.
Centres of Disease Control and Prevention further stresses that persons who have diarrhoea and have not yet confirmed the cause should immediately contact their health service provider.
The health agency officials of Canada however describe there are ways to ward off the disease. Practicing good hygiene helps to prevent cyclosporiasis outbreak. Washing the raw food and cooking it thoroughly can reduce the risk of catching the disease.
Officials further stressed on consumption of fresh produce locally grown in the country or imported from the United States and Europe where the bug is not commonly found.
Reporting by: Asha Bajaj
Image: Imported produce can be a likely cause of cyclosporiasis outbreak
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