 As of late, there has been an unprecedented nationwide increase in cases of cyclosporiasis, with an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 cases so far.
So, what is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis, caused by the single-celled parasite known as Cyclospora, is a gastrointestinal illness that primarily affects the small intestine. Cyclosporiasis is contracted by eating fresh produce or drinking water that is contaminated with the parasite. Â
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis can include:
- Body aches
- Severe diarrhea
- Extreme fatigue
- Intense bloating
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Loss of appetite
Symptoms can last for several days or even weeks if left untreated.
Why doesn’t it spread from person to person?
Unlike many illnesses, cyclosporiasis usually does not spread directly from one person to another. Despite this, humans are the only known hosts for this specific parasite. The reason it can’t spread among humans is that Cyclospora is immature when initially in the stool, and it will take 1-2 weeks for it to grow. When an infected human defecates, Cyclospora may be present in their stool. When these feces contaminate sewage and the sewage spills directly onto crops, people can get sick from eating the contaminated produce, which is the likely reason behind this outbreak. Authorities speculate the crop in this case may be lettuce, leafy greens, and salad mixes; however, they have not yet identified a specific farm, grower, distributor, or country of origin, and the investigation is still actively ongoing.
Public Health investigators are conducting what is called a traceback investigation. This means that they are following the supply chain of the suspected food from restaurants and grocery stores back to distributors and farms to determine where the contamination occurred.
Although cases have been reported in 31 states, Michigan has reported the highest number of illnesses so far.
Here are the following states with reported cases of cyclosporiasis:
AL, AK, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI*, MN, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH*, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI
(* = Highest number of cases reported so far)
How Can You Protect Yourself?
The best way to reduce your risk is to wash your fruit and vegetables before eating them. Although washing may not remove every parasite, it is still an important food safety habit.
If you develop severe diarrhea that lasts several days after eating fresh produce, contact your healthcare provider.
Stay informed and stay safe!