Summary
It arrives every summer. The headlines start piling up. A meddlesome parasite. Fresh produce. Food recalls. And hundreds of people suddenly dealing with days of miserable gastrointestinal illness.
So what's the culprit? Why does this parasite seem to appear year after year, and why are fresh herbs, leafy greens, and berries so often caught in the investigation?
In this Public Health IS... In the News episode, Maria Andrea brings together Environmental Health and Epidemiology to follow the clues behind one of the season's most talked-about foodborne illnesses. We'll uncover where Cyclospora comes from, why outbreaks seem to happen this time of year, how public health investigators track it down, and what you can do to keep yourself off the case list—and out of the bathroom.
Interested in learning more about a specific public health topic? Reach out to us at [email protected]! And learn more about Williamson County and Cities Health District at https://www.wcchd.org/If you like what you heard, please support this podcast by following, linking, commenting, and sharing with family and friends!
Chapters
00:00 Looking Beyond the Headlines
00:48 Meet the Panel: Experts from Williamson County Health District
01:15 What is Cyclospora and How Does It Cause Illness?
02:14 Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis and Recurrent Diarrhea
03:03 Signs and Risks of Severe Dehydration
04:24 Who is at Risk for Cyclospora Infection?
05:55 Transmission and Contamination of Produce
07:19 Effective Prevention: Cooking and Proper Washing
09:21 Environmental Sources and Fecal-Oral Route
10:10 Waterborne Risks and Pool Safety Tips
12:00 Why Public Health Monitors Cyclospora Cases
14:22 Public Health Response and Outbreak Investigation
17:43 Treatment and Recovery from Cyclospora Infection
19:19 Current Outbreak Status and Community Safety Tips
20:47 Final Advice: Hygiene, Hydration, and Answering the Call
Guests
Kaleb Fowlkes, Director of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Lori Murphy, Director of Environmental Health
Jovette Newton, Environmental Health Supervisor
Resources
Williamson County and Cities Health District - https://wcchd.org/
Cyclospora - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/
Investigation of Outbreak of Cyclospora Illness- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-9-state-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026