By Matthew Hersh
The Princeton Health Department has issued a public advisory encouraging residents to practice safe food handling and recognize the symptoms of cyclosporiasis as New Jersey experiences its typical seasonal increase in reported cases.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is most commonly spread through contaminated fresh produce or water. According to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), multiple states have reported significant increases in cyclosporiasis cases and illness clusters since May 1. In New Jersey, 46 domestically acquired cases had been reported through July 11. While reported cases have been steadily increasing, NJDOH reports that the total number remains within the state’s expected seasonal range of 30 to 50 cases for this time of year, and no illness clusters or outbreaks have been identified in New Jersey.
“There has been no indication that a product sold through Princeton retailers or restaurants has been linked to the current cyclosporiasis activity,” said Jeffrey Grosser, Princeton’s deputy administrator and health officer.
Because no local source has been identified, the Princeton Health Department has not asked area grocery stores or restaurants to notify customers or take additional action. Instead, the Municipality continues to monitor guidance from the NJDOH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and will notify residents if recommendations change or contaminated food products are identified.
“The response is largely being coordinated at the federal and state levels,” said Grosser. “The FDA, CDC, and state health departments are conducting epidemiologic and traceback investigations to identify the source of the current multistate increase in cases. New Jersey local health departments, including Princeton, receive regular updates from NJDOH and stand ready to take any necessary local action should a source or recall be identified.”
Although New Jersey is not experiencing the substantial increases reported elsewhere, produce grown or packed in other
states is routinely distributed throughout the country, making safe food handling an important precaution. At this time, however, there is no evidence linking New Jersey-grown produce to the current increase in cases.
Grosser said residents can continue supporting local farmers markets with confidence.
“Neither NJDOH nor the New Jersey Department of Agriculture has identified New Jersey-grown produce or local farmers markets as sources of illness,” he said. “The Department of Agriculture has emphasized that no Jersey Fresh produce has been linked to the current multistate activity and that New Jersey growers comply with federal food safety requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act, as well as the quality standards of the Jersey Fresh program.”
Grosser added that residents should continue eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
“The most important takeaway is that residents should continue eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as they remain an important part of a healthy diet,” Grosser said. “At this time, there is no recommendation to avoid produce.”
Grosser recommended best practices for food handling, including washing hands with soap and water before and after handling fresh produce, rinsing fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water while gently rubbing their surfaces, removing the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage before washing, scrubbing firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush, refrigerating cut produce promptly, and discarding bruised or damaged portions. For additional concerns, cooking food to an internal temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit will kill the parasite.
People infected with cyclosporiasis commonly experience prolonged watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and sometimes a low-grade fever, according to NJDOH. Symptoms typically develop about one week after exposure but can appear anywhere from two days to more than two weeks later. Without treatment, symptoms can last several weeks and may recur.
Although most cases are not life-threatening, dehydration can occur, particularly among young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Grosser encouraged anyone experiencing prolonged watery diarrhea or other persistent gastrointestinal symptoms to contact a healthcare provider. Cyclosporiasis is treatable with antibiotics once diagnosed.
The Princeton Health Department will continue monitoring guidance from the NJDOH, CDC, and FDA and will notify residents if contaminated food items are identified or public health recommendations change.