The Cyclospora outbreak plaguing the United States has yet to impact Canada and Saskatchewan.

Medical Health Officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority Dr. Simon Kapaj says Cyclospora is a parasite that comes from contaminated food and water and lives in the small intestine. The culprit sending many people to the hospital in the U.S. is iceberg lettuce, specifically from Taco Bell.

He says there are currently zero reported cases of the tummy trouble-inducing parasite in the province and the country, even with the amount of produce we import. Although, people who travel should stay wary.

“There is some risk involved, especially in certain parts of the United States where these outbreaks are actually growing every day.”

Kapaj advises travelers, and those who choose to stick around, to wash their hands frequently, wash their produce thoroughly, and avoid foods such as iceberg lettuce.

He warns that symptoms include fatigue, cramps, and a low-grade fever, followed by diarrhea, and anyone who experiences symptoms should report it to their doctor, so an investigation can be conducted.  However, he reminds the local public that, as of now, our food is safe.

Tips from Health Canada:

When travelling to a country where Cyclospora is found, you can reduce your risk by:

• avoiding food that has been washed in local drinking water
• drinking water from a safe source
• eating:
  • cooked food
  • fruit that you can peel yourself

It can be hard to prevent cyclosporiasis. This is because washing produce does not always get rid of the Cyclospora parasite that causes the illness. You can reduce your risk by:

• following safe food handling practices for produce on a daily basis
• cooking produce imported from countries where Cyclospora is found
• consuming fresh produce grown in Canada, especially during the spring and summer months when an increase in non-travel related cases of Cyclospora are reported in Canada.