Could a cyclosporiasis outbreak happen in Singapore?
Although the illness is endemic in many tropical and subtropical regions, it is uncommon here.
An ongoing gastrointestinal outbreak in the United States has raised concerns about the possibility of a similar occurrence in Singapore. Known as cyclosporiasis, the disease is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and primarily manifests as watery diarrhea along with other flu-like symptoms. While cyclosporiasis is rare in Singapore, gastroenterologist Benjamin Yip has noted only a handful of cases in his professional career.
However, the medical director of Alpha Digestive and Liver Centre has expressed that Singapore is not entirely immune to such outbreaks, citing recent instances of gastroenteritis.
The United States Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to iceberg lettuce sourced from a facility in Mexico, which has since recalled all its produce. However, the cyclosporiasis cases persist despite this recall. Cyclospora cayetanensis thrives in areas with poor sanitation and water treatment, and it can contaminate fresh produce such as lettuce, which is often consumed raw.
Singapore's vulnerability to food-borne illnesses is heightened by its reliance on imported foodstuffs, making up about 90% of the country's food supply. The Singapore Food Agency maintains strict inspection practices for imported foods, and the Communicable Diseases Agency monitors food-borne illnesses, including those caused by parasites.
Despite this, Professor William Chen from Nanyang Technological University believes the risk of an outbreak in Singapore is low, given the integrated parasite control systems in local vegetable farms and the country's extensive import sources. He advises consumers to practice good food hygiene to prevent such illnesses.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
