Cases of intestinal illness have doubled in Nebraska

The number of cases of a food-borne gastrointestinal illness is growing in Nebraska, but officials say they still don’t know if any cases are linked to a nationwide outbreak.

The Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that there are now 49 cases of cyclosporiasis in the state. That’s more than double the number of cases that had been reported as of last week.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said it has confirmed five new cases in July, only one of which was linked to overseas travel.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,645 cases but is investigating an additional 5,100 suspected cases. More than 140 people have been hospitalized, but there have yet to be any deaths linked to the illness, which can cause severe, watery diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms.

So far, officials have not been able to link the outbreak to a single cause, although in some states, bagged salad is suspected to be the culprit.

Nebraska officials said they have not definitively linked any cases in the state to the national outbreak but are working with federal and local health partners to investigate cases.

In Lincoln, Health Director Kerry Kernen, called it an “evolving situation.”

“We’re conducting interviews with community members who have contracted the illness," Kernen said in a news release. “So far, we know the illness was acquired here in the United States in four of our cases, but we haven’t yet determined a common source and if the cases are connected to the national outbreaks.”

She said the number of cases reported so far is not above average.

In the meantime, officials are urging Nebraskans to prioritize food safety. Among their recommendations are cooking food when possible, thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, and practicing good hand hygiene.

Unlike other intestinal illnesses, cyclosporiasis is not passed from person to person.