Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Cyclospora is a one-celled parasite. Cyclospora parasites are invisible to the human eye. They are too small to see even with a microscope. Cyclospora parasites are spread through human feces (poop). When people eat imported fresh produce that has been contaminated with human feces, they can be exposed to Cyclospora parasites. Once eaten, Cyclospora parasites can cause a type of food poisoning called cyclosporiasis. This is why our Cyclospora Lawyer recommends urgent medical attention for anyone who suspects that they have Cyclospora.
If you have been diagnosed with Cyclospora infection (cyclosporiasis), a Cyclospora lawyer may be able to help you get compensation in a Cyclospora lawsuit. Contact our Cyclospora lawyer at The Lange Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation today.
Cyclospora spreads when people eat food or drink water infested with Cyclospora parasites. Cyclospora are one-celled parasites that are invisible to the human eye. You cannot see, smell, or taste them. You can eat Cyclospora parasites on imported produce without even realizing it.
Food and water can become contaminated with Cyclospora parasites through contact with human feces (poop). People infected with Cyclospora parasites excrete the parasites through their feces. Cyclospora becomes infectious days or weeks after being passed in feces. According to the Mayo Clinic, “…it’s unlikely that you can get the infection directly from a person infected with Cyclospora, such as a restaurant worker who doesn’t wash his or her hands adequately after using the toilet.”
Cyclospora symptoms often include:
Less common symptoms that are sometimes present with Cyclospora infection include:
Sometimes people can have a Cyclospora infection without having any symptoms.
Symptoms of Cyclospora infection usually begin 2 days to 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Cyclospora parasites.
Because this is what we do. We have significant experience handling Cyclospora cases. Our Cyclospora lawyer have won millions of dollars for our clients.
If you have been diagnosed with Cyclospora infection, then yes, you should hire a Cyclospora attorney as soon as you can. Because the illness can last weeks or maybe months, it will be in your best interest to hire a legal professional who can begin investigating your claim, gathering evidence, and advocate for you while you recover.
Cyclospora cases fall under complex product liability laws, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed and discouraged if you don’t have a thorough understanding of them. Attempting to resolve a claim on your own will likely result in a smaller settlement, that may not be enough to cover all your illness-related expenses.
To ensure you recover a fair settlement or favorable verdict, a Cyclospora lawyer will:
Your lawyer will investigate the connection between your illness and the food you ate. If you have leftovers of the contaminated food, save it for testing and to potentially use as evidence in your case. Your attorney will also determine if others were made ill by consuming the same food product, and if the product has been recalled.
For your claim to be successful, your attorney will gather evidence to discover which parties are responsible for the contamination and how it occurred. (e.g., improper procedure in handling of the food, unsanitary restaurant conditions, etc.)
To have a Cyclospora claim for compensation, you must have suffered financial losses. Your lawyer will obtain copies of medical records and bills, pay stubs, any other receipts for illness-related expenses, and consider your pain and suffering to estimate your case’s value. They also have the resources to hire a forensic accountant if need be, to estimate the impact the infection will have on your financial future.
Cyclospora lawyers usually offer free initial consultations, so you have nothing to lose when getting advice about your case.
After a Cyclospora diagnosis, you may be entitled to the following types of compensation:
In Texas, the statute of limitations for filing a product liability claim is typically two years. There are some exceptions, but in most cases, if you file a lawsuit after the time limit, it will be dismissed.
Sometimes, but not usually. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), sold under the trade names Bactrim, Septra, and Cotrim, is the usual therapy for Cyclospora infection. No highly effective alternative antibiotic regimen has been identified yet for patients who do not respond to the standard treatment or have a sulfa allergy.
You can likely continue to reinfect yourself as the cycle of the parasite continues. This is why medical treatment is necessary to help reduce the duration and severity of the illness.
Untreated cyclospora infections can lead to long-term complications. These complications include: malabsorption (inability for intestines to absorb nutrients), ongoing bowel issues, cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), and Reiter’s Syndrome or Reactive Arthritis (inflammation and pain in joints). Those who are elderly, very young, or have compromised immune systems are the most likely to develop reoccurrence of the infection and/or complications.
Cyclospora infection is diagnosed by examining stool specimens. Diagnosis can be difficult in part because even patients who are symptomatic might not shed enough oocysts in their stool to be readily detectable by laboratory examinations. Therefore, patients might need to submit several specimens collected on different days. Identification of the parasite requires special laboratory tests that are not routinely done when stool is tested for parasites. Therefore, if indicated, health care providers should specifically request testing for Cyclospora.
If left untreated, Cyclosporiasis symptoms can last for several weeks to a month. In some cases, symptoms can last even longer. Diarrhea may return. Fatigue may continue even after the gastrointestinal symptoms stop.
Yes. If left untreated, Cyclospora infections can relapse. Symptoms may seem like they are going away only to come back again one or more times (relapse).
Cyclospora infections can happen at any time. But in the U.S., Cyclospora infections are most common in the Spring and Summer months, from May to August.
Call your doctor and seek out medical treatment. If left untreated, Cyclospora infections can last for weeks. In some cases, Cyclospora infections last even longer. Without treatment, Cyclospora symptoms can also come back again (you can relapse).
Also, you can get cyclosporiasis more than once. All the more reason to call your doctor and seek out medical treatment if you think you might have a Cyclospora infection. After properly treating your infection, consider scheduling a free consultation with an experienced Cyclospora lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation in a Cyclospora lawsuit.
Cyclospora infections are often treated with combination of two sulfa antibiotics, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (also known as Bactrim, Septra, or Cotrim). Antibiotic treatment can kill the Cyclospora parasites, preventing them from coming back and making you sick again.
People experiencing diarrhea should also drink plenty of fluids and rest.
Ask your doctor to test your stool (poop) for Cyclospora. There are special laboratory tests for detecting Cyclospora parasites. Unfortunately, these tests are not part of many standard lab tests. So ask your doctor to specifically test your stool for Cyclospora.
Your doctor needs to request that the lab specifically test for Cyclospora. Without the right tests, a Cyclospora infection can be missed.
If you have eaten a food that was recalled because of a Cyclospora outbreak, be sure to tell your doctor.
If you give a stool test without getting the right tests for Cyclospora, you may have to give the stool test again later. Better to get the right tests done the first time. The sooner your doctor can find out whether your have Cyclospora or some other type of food poisoning, the sooner they can begin the right treatment for you and help you to get better.
There can be long-term health consequences of Cyclospora infection. Cyclospora infections have been associated with chronic health complications like Guillain-Barre Syndrome and reactive arthritis.
While it may be frustrating to wait for compensation after a restaurant or grocery store sold you contaminated food, it is important not to rush through a complex lawsuit. Cyclospora cases can substantially vary in duration due to several factors. If you are suffering from long-term complications from the infection, your claim will typically take longer to resolve because it is not wise to settle before you have completely recovered or reached maximum medical improvement. Otherwise, you may end up settling for less than the amount you need to cover future expenses.
Unless there has been a recall issued, the complexity of proving that a food product was contaminated can also take substantial time to investigate. Proof must be found to show you ate food that was contaminated, that the contamination caused your Cyclospora infection, and your infection resulted in financial losses (e.g., medical bills, lost income, etc.).
These are just a couple of issues that can impact how long your case takes. Although it is stressful to wait, an experienced Cyclospora lawyer will guide you and give you a better idea on how long they think your case may take to ensure a satisfactory resolution.
There are multiple businesses that may be liable for the contaminated food that resulted in your Cyclospora diagnosis, such as:
Foodborne illnesses can easily be spread by the negligence of companies or workers, for example, by failing to properly clean and prepare the fresh produce. Although Cyclospora cannot be killed by washing produce with standard water sanitation methods, it can reduce the risk of it spreading.
When contaminated produce is sold, at a grocery store or restaurant for instance, then each company or individual throughout the entire chain of distribution of that product can be a defendant in a product liability lawsuit for the harm caused.
There are two legal theories that a Cyclospora case can be based on: strict liability and negligence.
Generally, a Cyclospora lawyer will use strict liability along with negligence.
Food safety practices can help prevent Cyclospora infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends retailers and consumers to:
Wash: Wash your hands using soap and warm water prior to and after handling or preparing produce, as well as in between preparing any type of raw meat or seafood products. In addition, wash all cooking utensils and countertops with soap and hot water.
Prepare: Rinse produce under running water for eating or cooking, and scrub firm fruits and vegetables. Cut out any bruised or damaged areas when preparing or before eating.
Store: Refrigerate leftover fruits and vegetables that have been peeled, cut or cooked as soon as possible, or within two hours. Store them away from raw meat and seafood.
People who have previously been infected with Cyclospora can become infected again. There is no vaccine available to prevent Cyclospora infections.
Imported fresh produce is the most common cause of Cyclospora infections in the U.S. Recent Cyclospora outbreaks have been caused by:
If you have been diagnosed with a Cyclospora infection (cyclosporiasis), you may have a Cyclospora food poisoning claim. If the food that gave you Cyclospora parasites can be identified, you can sue the store or restaurant where you bought the bad food. You can also sue the manufacturer who sold food infested with Cyclospora parasites if a food manufacturer was at fault. A Cyclospora lawyer can help you file a claim for compensation or a Cyclospora lawsuit. Contact our experienced Cyclospora lawyer at The Lange Law Firm for a free legal consultation today.
“You are incredible lawyers. Candess and Jory helped me in my food poisoning case. When I first got sick with food poisoning, I was confused and I did not know who to turn to. But when I met my lawyers, they kept me informed on all of the actions going on in my case. Their website and blog were informative, and I felt better because now I got the settlement and closure I was looking for. Thank you.”
-James