Health Department studies 2 new travel-related cyclosporiasis instances in Hawaii

The state Department of Health has confirmed two extra instances of cyclosporiasis in Hawaii residents who grew to become contaminated whereas touring outdoors the state, bringing the overall variety of confirmed instances reported in Hawaii this 12 months to a few.

Health officers mentioned the 2 latest sufferers are members of the identical family who traveled collectively internationally and to the mainland that has reported a cyclosporiasis outbreak. Based on their journey historical past, symptom onset and the parasite’s recognized incubation interval, investigators decided the infections have been acquired outdoors Hawaii.

The first confirmed case in 2026 concerned a nonresident customer who additionally contracted the sickness outdoors the islands.

State well being officers mentioned there is no such thing as a proof of regionally acquired an infection or ongoing group transmission in Hawaii.

“Although these two cases involve Hawaiʻi residents, they were exposed while traveling outside the state,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble mentioned in a press release. “There is no evidence of local transmission in Hawaiʻi and the risk to the general public remains low. We encourage anyone experiencing persistent diarrhea after recent travel to seek medical care.”

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal sickness attributable to the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People grow to be contaminated by consuming meals or water contaminated with the parasite. In the United States, outbreaks have most frequently been linked to sure recent produce gadgets.

The sickness shouldn’t be sometimes unfold straight from individual to individual as a result of the parasite should mature within the setting earlier than changing into infectious.

Symptoms often develop about one week after publicity however can seem anyplace from two days to 2 weeks later. The commonest symptom is frequent watery diarrhea. Other signs embody lack of urge for food, weight reduction, abdomen cramps or bloating, nausea, elevated gasoline, fatigue and, much less generally, vomiting or a low-grade fever.

Without therapy, signs can final a number of weeks or longer and will come and go.

The Health Department mentioned residents can scale back their threat by washing their palms totally earlier than getting ready or consuming meals, rinsing recent fruit and veggies beneath working water, training secure meals dealing with and in search of medical care in the event that they expertise extended or extreme diarrhea, particularly after latest journey or consuming produce from an space related to an outbreak.

Cyclosporiasis is treatable with prescription antibiotics. Healthcare suppliers who suspect infections are inspired to report instances to the Health Department and submit acceptable specimens for testing.

Health officers mentioned they may proceed monitoring for added instances and work with healthcare suppliers and public well being companions to detect any indicators of native transmission.