Currently 507 people are sick from an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness, called cyclosporiasis, linked to McDonald’s salads, federal health officials said Thursday. Twenty-four of those individuals have been hospitalized.
The illnesses began between May 20 and July 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Illnesses have been reported in 16 states: Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and New York.
There is still an investigation going on. While salads purchased from McDonald’s restaurants are one likely source of the infections, the FDA is working to determine the sources of the ingredients that were in common to the salads.
The cyclospora parasite causes intestinal illness in people who consume contaminated food or water. Symptoms normally begin a week or more after consuming the parasite and include diarrhea and frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements, according to the CDC.
Infected people can also experience a loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, nausea, gas and fatigue. Vomiting, headache, fever, body aches and flu-like symptoms can also occur. The illness can last from a few days to a few months. Patients might begin to feel better but can get worse again. Normal treatment involves antibiotics.
By: Maytinee Kramer
