Feces-Borne Parasite Sickens 243 At IL McDonald's, Country Club

ACROSS ILLINOIS — The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) says it’s continuing to work with local, state, and federal public health officials to investigate an increase in the number of cyclospora illnesses in counties all across the state, as the number of confirmed cases since mid-May is now at 243. Cyclosporiasis, according to IDPH, is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic cyclospora parasite.

According to IDPH, people can become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with feces that contains the parasite, as cyclospora is not spread directly from one person to another.

Patch reported more than 90 of those cases were reported after eating salads made for McDonald’s restaurants just days before falling ill, and just this week, a new cyclosporiasis outbreak was linked to a July 3 party at a Skokie country club.

Click Here: NRL Telstra Premiership

According to village health officials, more than 100 of the 950 attendees at the party became ill with apparent cases of cyclosporiasis. Skokie Health Department Director Catherine Counard said a survey has been sent out this week to people who attended the event at the Evanston Golf Club in an effort to notify and figure out what food may have caused the reported outbreak.

Patch reported the club also notified health officials about the outbreak, and the cyclospora parasite was confirmed as the cause Thursday morning, according to Counard.

In a statement to Patch, Counard also said two other cyclosporiasis cases were reported in Skokie this year, and neither were associated with McDonald’s, as one mentioned Burger King, and the other had been on a cruise in Europe.

Though Counard said due to it being a closed event at the golf club, there is no risk at this time to the general public. However, anyone who became ill should contact their healthcare provider to receive antibiotics, as the illness may last for a few days to a month or longer if not treated.

“We are working closely with the Illinois Department of Public Health,” Counard told Patch.

RELATED:

Previous cyclosporiasis cases have been linked to various types of imported fresh produce including raspberries, basil, snow peas, and lettuce.

Symptoms may include the following, and begin about a week to two weeks after exposure, although some people who are infected may not have any

Case counts and more information on outbreaks can be found on the IDPH website website and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Image via Shutterstock