An Ohio woman, Brelynn Daniels, is sharing her harrowing experience of suffering from cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness linked to contaminated fresh produce. The 30-year-old Toledo resident fell ill after eating a salad at a local restaurant, prompting her to raise awareness about the infections and encourage others to seek medical help for similar symptoms.
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Daniels’s ordeal began on 24 June when she went out for lunch with a friend. After noticing some brown lettuce in her salad, she returned it, thinking little more of it at the time. However, within hours, she began to experience severe symptoms, which included what she described as “violent” and “explosive” diarrhoea. “By that night, I was deathly ill,” she recalled in an interview with WTVG. The discomfort persisted throughout the weekend, leaving her feeling extremely unwell.
On the subsequent Monday, Daniels felt a brief improvement and returned to work, but that reprieve was short-lived. Just days later, her symptoms returned, leading to intense stomach cramps and nausea that rendered her unable to consume solid food for over a week. “I went a few days feeling like I was on the mend, and then it took another turn and went back downhill,” she explained.
After ten days of battling the illness, she learned of a cyclospora outbreak in the news. Concerned and desperate for relief, she and her husband decided to seek medical attention. Tests conducted at the hospital confirmed that Daniels was infected with cyclosporiasis and also suffering from a secondary infection. She noted that the stomach cramping was so severe that it led her to believe she might be experiencing severe liver pain. “There were moments where I was literally just camped out in the bathroom,” she added.
Three weeks into her recovery, Daniels still experiences fatigue and is reliant on antibiotics. She warned others who might display similar symptoms to seek medical attention promptly. “It’s not for the weak, I’ll tell you that,” she expressed, highlighting the potential dangers the illness poses, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine, causing illness characterised by watery diarrhoea, frequent and urgent bowel movements, and sometimes abdominal pain. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the illness can have a particularly devastating impact on those with weaker immune systems.
In the United States, cases of cyclosporiasis are reportedly on the rise, with surveillance indicating that over 4,000 individuals have fallen ill so far this year. Dr. Sohaib Imtiaz, Chief Medical Officer at People Inc., indicated that public health officials suspect that the outbreak may be linked to contaminated raw produce, particularly bagged salad mixes, fresh herbs like cilantro and basil, as well as raw berries and green onions. Investigators are actively working to trace the source of these outbreaks.
In light of the outbreak, officials are recommending precautions such as thoroughly washing fresh produce and kitchen utensils and considering cooking fruits and vegetables when possible to mitigate the risk of infection.
Daniels’s story serves as a cautionary reminder of the potential dangers associated with foodborne illnesses, reiterating the importance of vigilance when it comes to food safety. The risks posed by such infections can be significant, making it imperative for individuals to seek medical support if they develop concerning symptoms.