Cyclosporiasis cases in the Houston area are rising — but Houstonians shouldn’t be worried, experts say.
The parasitic infection, whose Houston area case count this year is now at least 40, can trigger watery diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and flu-like symptoms. However, Houston is not at the center of the outbreak. Federal officials said they believe cases in four states — Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia — are linked to the national rise, on Tuesday.
How many cyclospora cases has Harris County had this year?
Harris County Public Health has confirmed 24 cases of cyclospora within its jurisdiction as of Wednesday, up from the 18 cases the department reported a week before. The Houston Health Department reported 16 confirmed cases in the city of Houston on July 8, and did not respond to requests for an updated count.
A Harris County Public Health spokesperson said the area typically sees an increase in infections during the summer months, as cyclospora cases rise seasonally from April to August. However, the number of cases under the department’s jurisdiction this year is higher than it’s seen at this point during the past two years…