Douglas County health officials report 27 Cyclospora cases amid outbreak

The Douglas County Health Department said Thursday that it has identified 27 confirmed cases of Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes intestinal illness, with 12 of those reported in the last four days. The department is coordinating with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine whether the local cases are connected to a broader multistate outbreak. > Epidemiologists noted that eating at Taco Bell was the most common exposure among interviewed patients, with nearly two-thirds reporting a meal at the chain within two weeks before falling ill. Cyclospora typically produces symptoms such as watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue and low-grade fever about a week after consuming contaminated food or water. Without treatment, the illness can last for several weeks and may recur.