Cyclospora Parasite Confirmed in Oxford County Patient

Wednesday, 12 August 2015 15:37

The public are being reminded to thoroughly wash imported produce as that is how often times the parasite spreads

OXFORD COUNTY - A parasite that has infected nearly a hundred Canadians has made its way into Oxford County.

The first lab confirmed case of the intestinal parasite known as cyclospora may be present however it does not spread person to person. Program Supervisor at Oxford County Health Protection, Elaine Reddick, explains how this parasite travels and what the symptoms are. "You get that from eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water most likely some produce. Some people can actually get it without any symptoms. People will get diarrhoea and cramps it can be very uncomfortable and unpleasant, however for very young children or the elderly or anybody with compromised immune system it can be quite serious."

Imported produce could be to blame for a confirmed case and Reddick offers up a little positive news in terms of the parasite spreading. "It does not spread person to person so it's not that we will have one case and we will have more because of that. However, we don't know what the food source is so the advice that I give is to wash all produce, and that includes salad that comes in bags, and taking very special care around things like raspberries that have that bumpy exterior you need to really wash them well."

Reddick explains the parasite often appears in imported produce and in those that enjoy to travel to sunny destinations. "When we see these cases they are often travel related because this parasite doesn't come from Canada, usually it comes from other countries. Often we will see it in people who have travelled to tropical places and have picked it up there rather than having eaten produce that has been imported. If people do get an illness and have diarrhoea they should see their physician and get tested." According to Reddick this is the first confirmed case of the parasite in recent years.