Wash your fresh produce
By Ellyn Vohnoutka
Edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
A parasite that causes severe, watery diarrhea is spreading across the United States, and health officials in Michigan are racing to explain an unusual surge in cases.
Michigan's outbreak has grown fast. It has recorded 572
cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 4, up from 170 on June 30, according to the
state's Department of Health and Human Services. The state typically sees about
50 cases in an entire year.
The recent infections span seven counties in southeast
Michigan, and a source has not been identified. Officials are urging anyone
with symptoms to seek care.
Nationwide, at least 145 people in 17 states became sick
with cyclosporiasis between May 1 and June 16, according to the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those figures do not include
Michigan's more recent spike or updated figures after June 16.
At least 20 people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported. Those infected range in age from 5 to 86, the CDC said.
Before June 16, New York had reported the most cases,
followed by Illinois and Texas, according to the NBC News show
"TODAY." The true number of infections is likely higher because some
people recover without seeing a doctor and are never tested, the CDC said.
Despite the clusters, there is no evidence of a single
multistate outbreak tying all the cases together, the CDC said. The agency is
working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local officials to
trace the source. None of those infected reported traveling outside the country
before getting sick.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by Cyclospora, a microscopic
parasite spread along the fecal–oral route. This occurs when people eat food or
drink water contaminated with feces. Person-to-person spread is unlikely
because the parasite needs one to two weeks outside the body to become
infectious, the CDC said.
In the U.S., past outbreaks have been linked to fresh
produce such as basil, cilantro, raspberries and snow peas. Cases tend to climb
every spring and summer, typically peaking between May and August.
Infections have risen sharply in recent years; in 2019, the
CDC identified an unusually high 4,703 cases.
Symptoms usually appear two to 14 days after exposure and
can include appetite loss, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and a low-grade
fever, in addition to the hallmark "explosive" diarrhea. Illness can
last from a few days to more than a month, and symptoms may fade and return in
waves.
Most healthy people recover on their own, though the
infection is often treated with an antibiotic, the CDC said. People with
weakened immune systems have a higher risk of prolonged illness and relapse.
More information
Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to
learn more about cyclosporiasis.
