KCHD Shares Update On Cyclosporiasis Outbreak In Kanawha County

   There is a lot of information – and disinformation – out there about the Cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting several states, including West Virginia. KCHD’s Epidemiology team will keep you updated here with information from reliable sources.
   According to the West Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Epidemiology, there are 139 cases of cyclosporiasis. Fifteen of those reported cases have resulted in hospitalization. There are 32 cases suspected or confirmed in Kanawha County. 

   Taylor Farms de Mexico has initiated a recall, which also includes Marketside brand sold by Walmart also in West Virginia. 

   Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by five states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 13 to July 13. There have been 94 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. 

   Michigan analyzed food exposure details from 190 of the cases of people who reported eating at Taco Bell and shared these findings with CDC. Ingredient level analyses on meals eaten in these cases indicate that 90 percent of those interviewed reported eating iceberg lettuce. 
   FDA’s traceback investigation has identified convergence on a single supplier of iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico and used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill.
   FDA is working directly with the identified supplier to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market. As part of this investigation, FDA and state partners have initiated collection of product samples for testing and analysis. Additionally, FDA has increased screening at the border for products implicated in the outbreak.

MORE ON THE CYCLOSPORIASIS OUTBREAK FROM FDA.

KCHD, FCHD To Dispense Doxycycline To Prevent Onset Of Lyme Disease

   Kanawha-Charleston Health Department and Fayette County Health Department are now offering the antibiotic doxycycline for use in the prevention of Lyme disease, said Dr. Steven Eshenaur, who serves as health officer for both health departments. 
   “We are facing another extreme tick season. Tick bites are up nationally and in West Virginia. In fact, last year was a record year for Lyme disease in West Virginia, and we are already well past last year’s numbers at this point,” Eshenaur said. “It’s really difficult to go outdoors, even in your yard, and not get a tick on you, so we think it’s important to give folks the opportunity to prevent Lyme disease with a prophylactic dose of doxycycline. Lyme disease can have  serious symptoms – some potentially lifelong – and is to be taken seriously.”
   According to the CDC, doxycycline has been shown to work well as a prophylaxis for Lyme disease if taken early enough after exposure. Eshenaur recommends the two-pill, 200 mg dose of the antibiotic if someone has had a Blacklegged tick attached for up to 72 hours. The longer the tick is attached, the higher the chance of infection. This low dose of doxycycline has been shown to be preventive.
   Health department clinic teams will walk patients through a brief office visit before dispensing doxycycline. A $25 fee will cover the consultation and medication. The visit does not include treatment or testing for tick diseases. Walk-ins are welcome, but an appointment ensures a shorter wait time. 
   “This is about prevention. The easiest disease to treat is the one you never get,” Eshenaur says about all preventable diseases. “In the case of tick diseases, the best prevention is to never get them on you in the first place."

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FamilyCare, KCHD To Join Forces

   FamilyCare Health Centers and the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department to join forces to expand healthcare services in Kanawha County.
   Through this partnership, FamilyCare Health Centers plan to begin offering family practice services at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department location starting in the summer of 2026. The addition of these services will provide greater access to primary care and help meet the growing healthcare needs of the Kanawha Valley.
   “This partnership represents an important step forward in ensuring that individuals and families in our community have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare,” said Dr. Craig Glover, President & CEO of FamilyCare Health Centers. 
   Dr. Steven Eshenaur, KCHD’s Health Officer, said he is proud to partner with FamilyCare and bring its crucial services to the health department’s neighborhood. “Having FamilyCare’s team right in the heart of downtown Charleston and aligned with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is a complementary partnership that will bring additional healthcare services to our community. As a long-time emergency room physician, I cannot stress enough just how important preventive and regular care from a health provider is for us all. Tragic outcomes we see in the ER every day can often be prevented with early diagnosis and care. Having FamilyCare down the hall from us here at KCHD is going to be great for the community. It’s a game changer.”