Cyclospora, typhus, alpha-gal: A San Antonio summer bug guide - San Antonio Report

What the report says

San Antonio Report says summer heat, humidity and rain can raise the risk of several infections linked to insects, water and contaminated food, but local data suggest the illnesses drawing national attention are not necessarily the biggest concerns in Bexar County. The article cites Dr. Heather Yun, a San Antonio infectious disease physician and Infectious Diseases Society of America board member, who discussed precautions for residents.

The report notes a major U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak tied by officials partly to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, with investigators also reviewing other produce. CDC figures cited in the article put confirmed or suspected U.S. cases above 11,500 this summer, concentrated largely in the Midwest and Northeast. Texas had 68 cases as of July 13, while San Antonio had 15 as of July 21, levels described as similar to past local patterns. Yun said people at higher risk may consider extra caution with produce, including more thorough washing or cooking.

A more common local concern, according to the report, is cryptosporidiosis, another diarrheal parasitic illness often associated with pools, water parks and natural bodies of water. Texas averages more than 800 cases annually, and San Antonio averages 92 cases a year based on Metro Health data from 2016 to 2024.

The article also contrasts national discussion of alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy linked to lone star tick bites, with South Texas’ greater exposure to flea-borne murine typhus. State data cited by San Antonio Report show more than 6,700 flea-borne typhus cases from 2008 to 2023, with Bexar County reporting 853 cases from 2016 through 2024. Yun advised flea prevention for outdoor pets, dealing with rodents or small mammals near homes, and reducing stagnant water to limit mosquito-borne risks such as West Nile virus.