Hawaii health department confirms first cyclosporiasis case in a visitor
A visitor to Hawaii has been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, the first confirmed case in the state this year, but officials say the risk to residents remains low.
The Hawaii Department of Health announced that a visitor to the islands has been confirmed with a cyclosporiasis infection, marking the first case identified in the state for 2024. The individual developed symptoms after arriving in Hawaii and is believed to have contracted the parasite before travel, so the case will not be included in Hawaii's resident statistics.
Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Nathan Tan said the overall risk to residents and returning travelers remains low, but advised heightened awareness of symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, low-grade fever and vomiting if travelers have been to areas with rising case numbers.
"In general, the risk for anyone who’s traveled back from the United States is still low," Dr. Tan said.
The outbreak, which began in Michigan, has spread to at least 34 states on the mainland, with the CDC reporting 1,645 confirmed cases since May and over 5,100 suspected cases under investigation. Federal officials have not yet pinpointed a definitive source, though Michigan health authorities suspect lettuce may be involved. State health officials reiterated that Hawaii has recorded only three resident cases in the past decade, all linked to travel outside the state, and no evidence of local transmission.
The department also recommended that consumers thoroughly wash produce before eating it as a precautionary measure.