EEIP RIDRM Cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps and other intestinal symptoms. Common flu-like illness may also be present. Humans with cyclosporiasis shed the parasite in a non-infectious form that takes from several days to a couple of weeks to mature (sporulate) into its infectious form. The time required for maturation to the infectious form depends on factors such as temperature and moisture.
Actions Required and Control Measures
Reporting Requirements - Category 2
Cyclosporiosis is physician reportable by mail within 12 hours of recognition or strong suspicion to both the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the local health department (LHD). The director of any clinical laboratory must also report laboratory evidence of Cyclospora spp to both the DPH and the LHD. To assure you have the most up-to-date information concerning reportable diseases, please visit the Reporting of Diseases, Emergency Illnesses, Health Conditions, and Laboratory Findings page.
Case Investigation
LHD Responsibility: If the case is in a high-risk occupation or setting, the LHD will implement control measures.
DPH Responsibility: The DPH, through FoodNet/FoodCORE, will interview all cases. Interviews include food and travel histories in an attempt to identify a source of infection and to identify individuals in high-risk occupations or settings (food handler, health care worker with direct patient contact, day care settings).
DPH is available to the LHD for assistance, consultation and guidance, and to ensure that appropriate investigative and control actions are being taken.
Control Measures
Food Handler: Refer to DPH Food Protection Program at 860-509-7297.
Health Care Worker with Direct Patient Contact: Individuals with laboratory-confirmed infection should be excluded from direct care of patients until they are asymptomatic. Proper hand hygiene should be stressed.
Day Care Setting: Children or staff with laboratory-confirmed infections should be excluded until no longer symptomatic. Improved sanitation and personal hygiene should be emphasized. Proper hand hygiene by staff and children should be stressed, especially after using the toilet or handling soiled diapers.
Household Contacts: Household contacts with diarrhea should be evaluated and tested for cyclosporiasis and excluded from food handling and the care of children and/or patients until asymptomatic. Proper hand washing should be stressed.
This page last updated 9/17/2019.