Contagious: Cyclosporiasis

Contagion summary: Cyclospora is spread by people ingesting something, for example, water or food that was contaminated with infected stool. For example, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce. Cyclospora needs time (days or weeks) after being passed in a bowel movement to become infectious. Therefore, it is unlikely that Cyclospora is passed directly from one person to another. It is unknown whether animals can be infected and pass infection to people.¹

Contagion discussion: For example, in 1996, the parasite Cyclospora suddenly appeared as a cause of diarrheal illness related to Guatemalan raspberries.  These berries had just started to be grown commercially in Guatemala, and somehow became contaminated in the field there with this unusual parasite.²

Cyclospora is spread by people who ingest water or food that has been contaminated with infected stool. Because Cyclospora needs time (days or weeks) after being passed in a bowel movement to become infectious, it's unlikely that Cyclospora is passed directly from one person to another. It is unknown whether animals can be infected and pass infection to people. ³

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Cyclospora Infection: DPD
2. excerpt from Foodborne Infections General: DBMD
3. excerpt from Facts About Cyclospora: CDC-OC

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