Should Brits be worried about the mysterious ‘explosive diarrhoea’ bug sweeping the US?

If you’ve been on holiday recently you might want to stay vigilant (Picture: Getty/Metro) You might be thankful to be on UK soil right now, given that nearly 7,000 Americans have fallen victim to a watery and explosive diarrhoea-causing parasite. It’s known for causing a gnarly infection called cyclosporiasis, which has now swept 34 states since May 13, hospitalising 94 people. Due to the difficult nature of tracing this specific parasite, the origin of the outbreak has remained largely a mystery, although US fast-food chain Taco Bell told the BBC it’s removing lettuce from its menus in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, after the Centre for Disease Control shared 1,645 people in five states reported ‘exposure’ to the restaurant. But if a microscopic parasite that can be found in contaminated food and water can cause this much havoc in the US, could the food we’re eating here in Britain be at risk, too? We asked some experts whether we should be worried and what to look out for. All you need to know about cyclosporiasis Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Cyclospora cayetanesis is a parasite that infects the small intestine and causes an illness known as cyclosporiasis. ‘The parasite is commonly found in certain parts of Central and South America, southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa,’ prescribing pharmacist Karen Hutchinson tells Metro. The Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite which has caused thousands to fall ill (Picture: US CDC) You can contract cyclospora through a number of sources, Karen adds, but mainly by drinking unclean water or eating food that has been contaminated or not properly cooked and washed. If you have consumed some contaminated food or water, the Chemist4U pharmacist says symptoms of cyclosporiasis normally appear around a week after exposure. ‘This can make it really difficult to pinpoint exactly how and when it was contracted,’ Karen explains. Symptoms Dr Dominic Greenyer, private GP and Director at The Health Suite, tells Metro that, without a doubt, the most common symptom is the ‘prolonged watery diarrhoea’ those in the US have been struck down with. ‘It can last for several days, or even weeks, if left untreated,’ the GP explains. ‘People may also experience stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss and sometimes a low-grade fever.’ But what makes this unpleasant infection so different from others, is that symptoms often come and go. ‘People may feel better for a few days before the diarrhoea returns, which can make it easy to dismiss,’ Dr Greenyer adds. Should I be worried about cyclosporiasis in the UK? For Karen, the current US outbreak isn’t a ‘major cause for concern’ here in Britain. Lettuce has been suggested as one of the possible causes of the outbreak (Picture: Shutterstock/ sahinside) ‘The risk remains relatively low for people in the UK, especially given that Cyclospora is not typically spread directly from person to person,’ she explains. ‘That being said, if you recently returned from a country experiencing an outbreak, regularly eat uncooked fresh produce (such as salad leaves or raw vegetables), or suspect you have drunk contaminated water, then you are likely to be at greater risk of infection.’ So, if you’ve returned from one of the infected states recently, you should ‘remain vigilant’. What Dr Greenyer doesn’t want is people getting themselves worked up over this. ‘I wouldn’t want people to panic or stop eating fruit and vegetables,’ he says. ‘The overall risk to the average person in the UK remains low. However, if you develop persistent diarrhoea after returning from abroad, it’s sensible to seek medical advice rather than assuming it’s a typical stomach bug.’ What if you think you have cyclosporiasis? While anyone can become infected, both medical professionals agree symptoms are worse in the elderly, young children, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems. That being said, if you think you have any of the symptoms, read closely. ‘If symptoms are mild, the priority is staying well hydrated, particularly if diarrhoea is prolonged,’ Dr Greenyer says. ‘However, if symptoms become severe, or you’re passing blood, developing signs of dehydration or have an underlying medical condition, you should seek medical advice promptly.’ Unlike a lot of viral stomach bugs, because this one is caused by a parasite, it can actually be treated with antibiotics in most cases, which can be prescribed by your GP. If you’ve had persistent diarrhoea you need to go to the doctor (Picture: Shutterstock / Maha Heang 245789) Pharmacist Karen also warns that you should not be preparing food for others while you are unwell, and you should maintain good hygiene. Prevention No one would blame you for wanting to be cautious, so to try and avoid this nasty bug, Dr Greenyer wants you to wash your fruit and veg thoroughly before eating, especially if you’re eating them raw. ‘Take extra care with food and water if you’re travelling to countries where foodborne infections are more common,’ he adds. 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