Stomach Bug Outbreak May Be Linked to Bagged Salad: All the Details

woensdag 31 juli 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Maressa Brown 2 hours ago

Hundreds of people in Nebraska and Iowa are sick with a stomach bug, which health officials claim is probably linked to something we all assume is super-healthy: salad! Specifically, a "prewashed," prepackaged salad mix -- containing iceberg, romaine, red cabbage and carrot -- that was distributed nationally to groceries and restaurants. Health authorities think it tipped off this outbreak of Cypress 4, or cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness tied to a rare type of parasite called cyclospora, which was reportedly blamed for at least 250 people falling ill in 13 other states! Loooovely, eh?

About 80 percent of the at least 145 cases in Iowa could be traced back to the salad. Meanwhile, at least 78 people have come down with the bug in Nebraska -- and five have been hospitalized as a result. Health officials say new cases are being reported daily. And 122 cyclospora cases in Texas might be related, too, that state's department of health services said. Gross! And so scary!

The CDC says it's not clear if the salad is to blame for the cases previously reported in Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Ohio. But in the meantime, the FDA is reportedly investigating what people in states affected before Nebraska and Iowa ate, but they say it's "labor intensive and painstaking work, requiring the collection, review, and analysis of hundreds and at times thousands of invoices and shipping documents." Uh huh ...

State and federal authorities are also still trying to determine exactly where the product was sold or under what brand name, according to CNN. So, there's no recall in effect just yet. Fantastic. The Nebraska alert noted that it "came through national distribution channels" and that "locally grown produce is not part of this outbreak." Well, that's certainly a case for being a locavore, right? Then again, I guess contamination happens to all sorts of produce! So much for all greens bein' nothin' but good for ya!

Does this freak you out?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, hitting the gym, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

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New Stomach Bug Outbreak Spreading Across the Country: What You Need to Know

donderdag 25 juli 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Julie Ryan Evans 10 hours ago

Here's a big summer bummer for you -- there's a mysterious new stomach bug known as Cypress 4 spreading across the United States. So far it's sickened more than 250 people and sent at least 10 people to the hospital. And that's just the people that we know about. Experts say it's difficult to detect, so there are likely many more cases out there.

Great. Just when we're fully enjoying the glorious days of summer -- a stomach bug is the last thing we need. I think of the family vacations that will be interrupted, and the days meant to be spent at the pool or beach spent hovering near a restroom. While outbreaks are never welcome, they're at least easier to accept when they don't come when we most want to be outside. But here we are, and here's what you need to know about this bad bug.

According to the CDC, cases of the Cyclospora infection have been reported in Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Georgia, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramping, bloating, fatigue, and weight loss, and they can last for more than a month.

The good news is that the disease isn't spread from person to person. Rather it's a parasite that's usually spread by people eating or drinking something -- often fresh produce. It's typically found overseas in tropical climates, but the puzzling thing about this outbreak is that the people affected didn't have a history of international travel in the weeks before they fell ill. It's also not know if the outbreaks are linked.

While they attempt to figure it out, be on the lookout for any signs of it in your family. According to ABC, anyone who has had these symptoms for more than a few days should ask their doctor about the possibility of being infected with the bug. Apparently there's a special test they can do, and if you do prove to have it there's an antibiotic that will help rid you of the symptoms. But since it's a new outbreak, and not something typically tested for, you need to ask.

Have any of your family members been affected by this stomach bug?

Image via ABC

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

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