When it comes to summer life, a hearty gay salad is the spice of life, but under this regime, queer people don’t have access to anything — not even fresh produce or the pure whimsy of a farmers’ market. It’s no secret that the Trump administration’s defunding of institutions that have kept us healthy, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is having far-reaching effects, including parasites that prefer fresh food and cause watery diarrhea. If you’re looking at that bag of salad mix in your fridge with some skepticism, you should be.
Latest casualty of post-war disease rise Trump administration cuts Impacting critical aspects of the U.S. public health infrastructure are: Cyclospora outbreaka parasite that causes symptoms called cyclosporiasis, including watery diarrhea and stomach cramps, in infected people. Health officials have not yet been able to trace the source of the infection, which was first confirmed in May and has since spread to 34 states. According to the CDC: Number of confirmed infections: 1,645;However, local health officials are reporting more confirmed cases. 5,000 cases and counting Reported only in Michigan, 517 items All of New York State.
The outbreak has been linked to fresh food contaminated with Cyclospora, but the exact source has not been confirmed. On July 16th, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) People are being asked not to eat shredded lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. NBC reported Two people familiar with the federal investigation told news outlets that Taco Bell’s lettuce supplier under investigation is Taylor Farms. Despite this new clue, the source has not yet been confirmed.
In response to the outbreak, people are trying to understand what is still safe to eat to keep themselves safe and minimize the risk of contracting Cyclospora. Especially for gay and transgender people, who are disproportionately affected. work at a restaurantteeth More people are working on farms And at farmers markets, that’s much more likely to happen. vegetarian or veganunderstanding how exposure to parasites works is of paramount importance. ACLU attorney and transgender advocate Chase Strangio has documented his experience with the parasite. business insider.
But before you rush out and buy vegetable soap to scrub your produce (which does little to prevent the spread of cyclospora), it’s important to learn about how cyclospora grows, best hygiene practices, and what else you can do to keep yourself safe.
What is Cyclospora and how does it spread?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal disease characterized by stomach cramps and watery diarrhea caused by the parasite Cyclospora caetanensis, which can be spread through infected water or food. Dr. Demetre Dakalakis, chief medical officer at Cullen Road Regional Medical Center in New York City, said the infection is most often spread through fresh food.
“One important difference is that Cyclospora is not immediately infectious when passed in the stool,” Daskalakis says. Defender. “This parasite needs time to mature in the environment before it can infect others, so direct human-to-human transmission is much rarer than with other stomach bugs.”
However, it is important to use extreme caution when handling produce, especially since the outbreak is suspected to be linked to fresh vegetables.
How should I wash produce to prevent the spread of infection?
While some people’s first instinct may be to reach for vegetable soaps, as they did early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Daskalakis says, “While there is no surefire way to completely remove Cyclospora from contaminated produce, there are steps people can take to reduce the risk.” defender.
Vegetable soaps are not an effective way to kill Cyclospora in contaminated food. Daskalakis recommends rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before cutting, eating, or cooking them to minimize the spread. Hard produce like cucumbers and melons, and produce with skins like oranges and bananas, can be scrubbed with a produce brush. Additionally, washing your hands before and after handling fresh food is an effective way to stay safe.
For those taking special precautions, CNN reported It is important to avoid berries, shredded lettuce, salad greens, fresh herbs, and other uncooked leafy vegetables as they have been linked to previous outbreaks of Cyclospora. Packaged vegetables, such as pre-cut vegetables and spring mixes, also need to be washed and rinsed again if you plan on eating them.
If you want to be on the safe side, cooking the vegetables will kill Cyclospora. This is because Cyclospora will die at temperatures above 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
What if I work on a farm, food service, or near fresh produce?
The restaurant industry employs the most LGBTQ+ people of all occupations; University of California, Berkeley Food Labor Research Centermany queer and trans people interact with tons of fresh food. Daskalakis said anyone handling fresh vegetables should take additional precautions to minimize exposure to Cyclospora.
“Anyone who grows, handles, transports, sells, or prepares fresh produce should be especially diligent about hygiene and food safety practices. That means washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet, staying home if you have a diarrheal illness, using safe water sources, and taking steps to prevent contamination of produce with human waste,” he says.
“While these precautions are good practice for everyone, they are especially important for people who directly handle fresh produce, as cyclosporiasis is associated with contamination of food and water with human feces,” Daskalakis says.
Can you get cyclosporosis through anal sex?
There is growing concern, especially among queer people, that cyclosporosis can be transmitted from person to person through sexual activity, especially when the mouth or anus is involved. Considering that there was Staphylococcus rubra cases are on the rise A bacterial infection of the intestines that can cause fever, cramps and diarrhea was reported last year and can be spread through sexual activity, especially anal sex, Daskalakis said.
“This is an important issue, especially for the LGBTQ+ community, which is experiencing an epidemic of other enteric infections such as rubella,” he says. “At this time, cyclosporiasis is not generally considered a sexually transmitted disease, and there is limited evidence that sexual transmission plays an important role in the spread of cyclospora.”
Simply put, cyclosporiasis cannot be spread from person to person and is not considered a sexually transmitted disease. That being said, you should still be careful and practice good hygiene, especially when coming into contact with human feces.
“Any activity that involves exposure to fecal matter can increase the risk of intestinal infections and other gastroenteritis,” Daskalakis says. “Practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands before and after sex, washing the area around the genitals and anus, and avoiding sex if either partner has diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms, is a good preventive measure to reduce exposure to a variety of infectious diseases.”
Source: Advocate.com – www.advocate.com
