Cyclosporiasis cases on the rise: Explosive diarrheal parasite outbreaks in 45 states
Cyclosporiasis cases continue to rise, with the CDC counting 6,707 laboratory-confirmed infections since May 1.
Cyclosporiasis, a stomach-disturbing parasitic infection known for causing explosive diarrhea, now affects 45 states and thousands of people.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in its weekly update on July 28 that there have been 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases since May 1, an increase of more than 2,500 since the last report on July 21. Additionally, cases are now being recorded in 45 states, up from 41 states last week. More than 11,500 additional cases, primarily in Michigan and Ohio, have yet to be confirmed by laboratories, according to the CDC.
According to the agency, the number of people hospitalized is 423, but there have been no deaths.
Federal health officials are still investigating the source of what are believed to be multiple separate outbreaks, the largest of which is centered in Michigan. The state reported more than 10,000 cases of cyclosporiasis on July 29, but this number differs from the CDC. That’s because they have not yet been officially confirmed or reported to federal agencies for aggregation.
The largest outbreak has been linked to iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms, an agricultural giant in central Mexico, which began a recall on July 17.
According to the latest information from the CDC, “cases of cyclosporiasis may not be limited to these states with known cases.” “The actual number of people with cyclosporosis may be higher than reported, as some people recover without seeking medical care and are not tested for cyclosporiasis.”
View a map of states with cyclosporosis cases
So far, only Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Mexico and South Carolina have avoided the outbreak. Michigan and Ohio remain the two most affected states, with Washington, D.C. also reporting a small number of cases.
The CDC only reports laboratory-confirmed cases that occurred after May 1 among people who did not travel abroad within 14 days of symptom onset. Because of tracking, verification and reporting processes, those numbers often lag behind those released by state health officials. There is typically a six-week lag between the onset of an illness and the time it is reported to the CDC.
What is cyclosporosis? What are the symptoms?
Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that causes unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms associated with food poisoning, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. It is caused by the parasite Cyclospora caietanensis, also known simply as Cyclospora, and is usually transmitted through contaminated food or water.
Although unpleasant, it is generally not known to cause death, and many cases go unreported because people recover at home without seeking medical attention. It can cause more serious complications in people with weakened immune systems or other underlying health problems.
According to the CDC and Cleveland Clinic, the most common symptom is watery, frequent, and sometimes “explosive” diarrhea, but other problems include:
- vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Bloating, including belching and gas, or stomach cramps.
- Extreme fatigue (malaise).
- heat.
- nausea.
10,000 cases reported in Michigan, largest lettuce-related outbreak hits nine states
The Michigan-centered outbreak linked by the Food and Drug Administration to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms has been identified as the nation’s largest, with 10,077 cases reported in the state as of July 29.
Illnesses from the lettuce outbreak have been confirmed in nine states, including Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, according to the CDC.
The states were identified after health officials tested sick people and traced the “DNA” of the infections, so to speak, to see if there was a link. Related items are considered part of the same source and may originate from the same source. So far, these nine states are the only ones that the CDC has confirmed are interconnected and can be traced back to lettuce.
As USA TODAY previously reported, the source of cyclosporiasis is harder to trace than food poisoning because it has a longer incubation period, difficult to obtain samples, and cannot use the same genetic tracking tools as pathogens such as E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes.
Health officials are tracking several possible outbreaks
Several other distinct clusters of cases have been identified by the CDC and FDA, but no common cause has yet been identified. And although Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a press conference on July 21 that the outbreak was “under control,” critics point to cuts to related health agencies, with reduced surveillance and staffing limitations that have enabled not only the spread of Cyclospora, but also other recent outbreaks like the screwworm.
Last year, the CDC scaled back a decades-old federal and state partnership monitoring foodborne illnesses, including those caused by Cyclospora.
Meanwhile, Mexican health officials also said there is not yet enough evidence to support the FDA’s claim that the outbreak originated across the border, as reported by USA TODAY. )
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Contributors: Melina Khan, Mike Snider, Sara Moniuszko, USA TODAY. Reuters
