Fresno County Confirms First Cyclosporiasis Case of Year, Unrelated to National Outbreaks

Fresno County health officials confirmed the first case of cyclosporiasis in the area this year, noting that the infection is not connected to recent outbreaks reported in other states. The disease, caused by a parasite, can lead to severe diarrhea, according to Dr. Trinidad Solis of the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked earlier outbreaks to contaminated imported produce such as raspberries, lettuce and cilantro, including a recent incident involving shredded iceberg lettuce supplied from Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations in the Midwest. Fresno officials said the local case does not appear to be related to those incidents.

The department is not advising residents to avoid any specific fruits or vegetables, but recommends washing all produce under running water, even when packaged. Dr. Solis said the parasite infection is rare in Fresno County and that the illness is treatable with antibiotics.

Local businesses are taking precautionary steps; a small cake truck in northwest Fresno removed raspberry dishes from its menu as a safety measure. The county continues to monitor the situation and is working with state and federal partners for any further developments.