New Mexico health officials urged residents to practice thorough hand hygiene and properly wash fresh produce to reduce the risk of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal infection, after confirming three cases in the state this year.
First and foremost, there’s no cause for alarm, said Sarah Shrum Davis of the New Mexico Department of Health. The New Mexico Department of Health reported new cases on Tuesday. Cyclospora infections have sickened people nationwide, with 170 cases in Michigan and more than two dozen in Texas this year, health officials said. The state’s cases remain small, but officials urged prevention amid an uptick in summer produce consumption.
Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables under running water—even those you plan to peel—and refrigerate perishables immediately, officials recommend.
Cyclosporiasis spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces. Symptoms typically appear about a week after exposure and include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and sometimes a low-grade fever. The illness is rarely fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it can cause discomfort and weight loss, particularly among older adults, young children, and people with compromised immune systems.
Treatment with antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is effective in managing moderate-to-severe cases. Health care providers should consider cyclosporiasis when patients present with prolonged diarrheal illness, especially during summer.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is monitoring for new cases. Health officials are working with clinicians statewide. Residents experiencing symptoms are encouraged to seek medical evaluation.
This year’s cases of infection in New Mexico come as the state also manages other infectious disease concerns, including plague cases reported earlier in the season. Officials stressed that preventive steps, such as rigorous handwashing after using the restroom or handling food, and careful produce preparation, remain the most effective tools against cyclosporiasis.
