“Explosive diarrhea” parasite reported in Franklin County
Columbus health officials are reporting cases of a parasite described as causing “explosive diarrhea.” The illness is called cyclosporiasis, and it’s caused by the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. All of this is part of a multistate outbreak the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating.
“For Franklin County and Columbus combined, we had eight confirmed and probable cases in June and two in May,” Kelli Newman, Director of Public Affairs & Communications for Columbus Public Health, told 614NOW. “We currently do not have any cases reported for July yet, but that is likely to change. Cyclosporiasis is not new and it is something we see every year. At this point, we are not seeing an increase in the number of cases we would expect for this time of year.”
There have been reports of cyclosporiasis in counties all over the state, but as of July 6, the majority appeared to be in the northwestern part of Ohio.
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The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department issued a public health alert warning residents about the outbreak. Crawford County Public Health has also reported an increase in suspected Cyclospora illnesses and urged residents to watch for symptoms. Cases have been reported in the Cincinnati area, too. Michigan is one of the hardest-hit states. New York, Texas and Illinois are also emerging as hotspots.
Nationwide, the race is on to determine what all of the patients have in common.
Local, state and federal investigators are comparing grocery purchases, restaurant visits and foods they recently ate in hopes of identifying a single contaminated product. A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Health says teams are conducting interviews to identify any potential exposures. So far, no source has been confirmed, though health officials say Cyclospora is most commonly linked to fresh produce, including leafy greens, herbs and berries.
Health officials say cyclospora typically causes “explosive diarrhea” along with stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, fatigue, loss of appetite and, in some cases, a low-grade fever. Symptoms often begin about a week after exposure and can last for weeks if left untreated.
Doctors recommend thoroughly washing fresh fruits and vegetables and contacting a healthcare provider if severe diarrhea develops. Diagnosis requires a stool test, and the illness is typically treated with antibiotics rather than resolving on its own.
The Ohio Department of Health provided 614NOW with this list of cases by county. Keep in mind, this was as of Monday morning. Cases are expected to increase.
| County | Number of Cases |
| Allen | 1 |
| Ashland | 7 |
| Auglaize | 1 |
| Carroll | 3 |
| Clark | 2 |
| Clermont | 1 |
| Crawford | 7 |
| Cuyahoga | 4 |
| Fairfield | 3 |
| Franklin | 10 |
| Fulton | 5 |
| Greene | 3 |
| Hamilton | 5 |
| Henry | 2 |
| Holmes | 1 |
| Jackson | 2 |
| Jefferson | 1 |
| Knox | 1 |
| Lake | 4 |
| Lawrence | 1 |
| Licking | 7 |
| Lorain | 4 |
| Lucas | 30 |
| Mahoning | 2 |
| Marion | 1 |
| Medina | 2 |
| Montgomery | 4 |
| Morrow | 2 |
| Ottawa | 2 |
| Pickaway | 2 |
| Portage | 1 |
| Preble | 1 |
| Richland | 3 |
| Ross | 4 |
| Sandusky | 2 |
| Seneca | 2 |
| Stark | 8 |
| Summit | 3 |
| Tuscarawas | 1 |
| Warren | 1 |
| Williams | 1 |
| Wood | 20 |
| Wyandot | 10 |
| TOTAL | 177 |
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