Utah officials are urging residents to remain calm following social media reports linking the state to a multi-state outbreak of the stomach bug Cyclospora. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the state is not part of the current national outbreak.
While the CDC's national map includes Utah, the DHHS stated that the state's single recorded domestic case is more than a month old and is completely unrelated to the broader national increase in cases.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine, resulting in gastrointestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. Symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, severe stomach cramps, and watery diarrhea that may last for weeks if left untreated.
The parasite spreads through the consumption of contaminated food or water rather than direct person-to-person contact. Although the parasite can survive in chlorine within swimming pools, the current national outbreak is tied almost entirely to imported fresh produce. Health experts suggest that while washing produce helps, cooking fruits and vegetables is the only certain way to destroy the parasite.
At this time, Utah remains unaffected by the recent spike in cases, which has grown to over 3,000 nationally. Most of the current infections are concentrated in Ohio and Michigan.
In other local news, Ogden officials are currently draining Pineview Reservoir to replace a century-old pipeline located under the lake. Officials noted that performing this work during a period of naturally low water levels due to drought helps save millions in taxpayer funds.
Additionally, Lagoon Amusement Park is celebrating its 140th anniversary. The park originally opened in 1886 as a resort on the Great Salt Lake shores before moving to its present location in Farmington.
