As cyclosporiasis cases rise, western NC shoppers take extra precautions with produce

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released new information about cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. According to NCDHHS, the rise in North Carolina cases is not associated with the outbreak in five other states involving iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Farms to some of the Taco Bell locations there. Instead, commonly reported foods connected to cyclosporiasis cases in North Carolina include lettuce, cilantro and parsley, according to an NCDHHS press release. According to an NCDHHS update on Friday, July 17, 307 cases of cyclosporiasis and 13 hospitalizations were reported in N.C. from May 1 to July 14. HEALTH OFFICIALS MONITOR CYCLOSPORIASIS AS CASES RISE ACROSS NATION: WHAT TO KNOW "I think people realize, with that being a nationwide outbreak to start with, that it was something that was being distributed nationwide. It wasn't something that a local farmer 10 or 15 miles down the road was growing," said Coates & Sons Produce owner Michael Coates. Coates is warning shoppers to wash produce well before eating. Shoppers at the food market say they’re being extra careful right now. "I’m just making sure that I’m washing my vegetables and produce very carefully with baking soda, which kills some of the parasites, but that’s why I’ve come to the farmers market because I know that’s home grown and not hothoused," said Fletcher resident Shirley Pennell. "Buy fresh local produce more and supermarket produce less and then the other thing we decided was to just kind of lay off some of the fruits and vegetables that are harder to clean, like broccoli and lettuce and just buy things that has a thick skin and eat more seafood," said David Shaheen, another shopper at the WNC Farmers Market. Last year, the federally run Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, cut the requirement to surveil infections caused by six different germs, cyclospora being one of them. Locals have also shared concerns that federal programs like the CDC and FDA are underfunded.