How a Food Poisoning Attorney Can Help
If you or a loved one contracted the parasite Cyclospora from contaminated foods or beverages, you could be entitled to compensation. OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers focus their practice on helping people sickened or injured by food poisoning.
We can investigate the source of contamination and identify all liable parties. For help with your financial recovery, call (888) 828-7087 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
It can be challenging to connect Cyclospora infections with the contaminated source, but it can be done. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Food and Drug Administration are developing new techniques to better link cases and sources of contamination.
A food injury lawyer can thoroughly investigate using the most recent technology to determine who is at fault in your case.
Because serious Cyclospora infections almost always require professional medical treatment, you should always get legal assistance to obtain compensation to cover your losses. The companies responsible for these outbreaks will have teams of lawyers. You deserve to have someone protect your rights too.
We can help you get compensation for:
The lawyers at OFT have extensive knowledge about Cyclospora and how to fight these cases. They have helped countless victims like you.
Because we have worked on so many of these cases, we are familiar with the science involved in food poisoning cases. We consistently work with experts in the field and learn the latest information about these conditions.
Liability for contaminated foods and beverages can rest with many different businesses. These liable parties include the specific source of the contamination and any business that failed to thoroughly clean and prepare the fresh produce.
Washing fruits and vegetables and standard water sanitation methods do not kill Cyclospora, but they can reduce the risk of spreading the parasite.
Potential sources for Cyclospora infections include:
A Cyclospora infection, known as cyclosporiasis, is caused by a microscopic parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis. This tiny one-celled parasite causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis. The parasite, which is consumed through contaminated food or water, causes intestinal illness.
If you are infected by Cyclospora, you will experience persistent diarrhea, gas and bloating, loss of appetite, and symptoms. Your illness can last for weeks or months. Symptoms can clear up and reappear later.
Some symptoms of cyclosporiasis are similar to the stomach flu and other ailments. That is why you should see your doctor or other healthcare providers have the necessary stool samples tested.
If you test positive for Cyclospora, you may require antibiotics. In severe cases, Cyclospora infections require hospitalization and medical care, including additional antibiotics and IV fluids. It also has been linked to some long-term and chronic health complications.
Cyclospora spreads through people ingesting food or water that is contaminated with feces. It is not spread person-to-person.
Anyone can suffer from a Cyclospora infection, but the most common forms of transmission are from eating contaminated food or beverages. Those who travel to certain areas are most at risk. Cyclospora is endemic in many countries in tropical and subtropical regions.
Because it takes one to two weeks for a parasite to be infective, it usually takes about a week for a person to show signs of the infection.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include:
Symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several months. In some cases, symptoms seem to improve and then return. Relapse is most common when the infection is left untreated. Anyone who has a weakened immune system or is in poor health can suffer more severe and prolonged illness.
If you or a loved one experiences symptoms of an infection and have traveled lately or consumed fresh produce, it is important to talk with a physician as soon as possible.
If your physician suspects a Cyclospora infection, they will have a stool sample tested by a lab. You may need to submit multiple stool samples from different days. Identifying the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite also requires a special lab test and is not routine. Your healthcare provider must specifically request a test looking for Cyclospora.
If you test positive for Cyclospora, the recommended treatment, according to the CDC, is a combination of antibiotics and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
If you are allergic to sulfa-based drugs, you will need to speak with your doctor about your options. No other effective antibiotics have been identified. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, your physician may prescribe ciprofloxacin or nitazoxanide, known as Alinia.
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In the summer of 2020, over 700 people were sickened in an outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses, and we represented nearly 100 of those infected in this outbreak. Learn More About Our Work Here.
In June 2019, 23 lab-confirmed cases of domestically acquired cyclosporiasis were reported to the CDC by New York City and 10 states. These individuals became ill after May 1, 2019, and had not traveled internationally in the 14 days before onset. At least two individuals were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported. The CDC’s investigation into potential sources is ongoing.
In 2018, several Cyclospora outbreaks were linked to produce in the U.S. Between May and August, there were 2,299 lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis reported to the CDC by 33 states. These were domestic cases, and those who became ill had no history of international travel in the 14 days before onset. At least 160 people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported.
The largest outbreaks between May and August 2018 were linked to pre-packaged Del Monte vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip sold at Kwik Trip convenience stores. Another outbreak was linked to the Fresh Express Salad Mix sold at McDonald’s. Other cases were linked to basil and cilantro.
According to the FDA and CDC, there were nearly 3,000 reported cases of domestically acquired and travel-associated cyclosporiasis in 2018. Both agencies believe many Cyclospora cases go unreported.
You can become infected by Cyclospora at any time, especially in relation to travel, but the U.S. finds infections are more common from May through August.
The CDC and FDA are working together to prevent Cyclospora infections. Previously, Cyclospora was contracted from traveling abroad and from imported produce. However, 2018 was the first year Cyclospora was confirmed in domestically grown produce, according to the FDA. The number of Cyclospora infections has also risen in recent years.
The FDA and CDC have developed a new method of detecting Cyclospora in food. They are developing protocols to sequence the genome of Cyclospora to better link cases to each other and the source of contamination.
Most of the FDA and CDC’s efforts rely on cases of Cyclospora being detected, confirmed, and reported. If you believe the Cyclospora parasite infected you or a relative, you should see a physician as soon as possible. If confirmed, your case should be reported to the local or state health department and the CDC.
Don’t wait until it is too late to discuss your rights after a Cyclospora infection. You deserve to know the facts, who is responsible, and your options regarding compensation. The OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers can help you recover money damages from all liable parties.
Call (888) 828-7087 today or contact us online. We handle food injury cases across the nation, offer 100% free initial consultations, and there are never any fees unless you recover compensation.
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