6 Albertans hit with parasitic illness, province says no link to U.S. outbreak found

Health officials in Alberta are investigating an uptick in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that can cause severe diarrhea and is responsible for a large outbreak in the United States.

6 Albertans hit with parasitic illness, province says no link to U.S. outbreak found All developed symptoms since May 1, most associated with travel to Mexico Health officials in Alberta are investigating an uptick in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that can cause severe diarrhea and is responsible for a large outbreak in the United States. But the province said no connection has been made between the Alberta illnesses and the American outbreak, which has led to thousands of confirmed and suspected cases. According to the health officials, six people have developed symptoms and tested positive since the beginning of May.

There have been no hospitalizations and no deaths. Five became ill within the symptom-onset window reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (May 1 to July 9), according to the province. The sixth was confirmed July 15.

“Four of the five cases were associated with recent travel to Mexico, while none involved travel to the United States," wrote Jaye Lang, the press secretary for Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Justin Wright, in an email. Health officials are looking into travel histories, food exposures and other potential links to outbreaks. “While Alberta cases are being assessed against the cyclospora outbreak under investigation in the United States, no connections have been identified to date, and investigators have not identified a common food