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Cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce reaches Maine
WABI • • business
Key Points:
- Maine CDC has confirmed 10 cases of cyclosporiasis linked to a multistate iceberg lettuce recall, part of a nationwide outbreak with over 6,000 reported cases.
- Two deaths in Michigan have been reported in connection with the outbreak, though those patients had pre-existing health conditions; the CDC notes the illness is rarely fatal.
- Cyclospora infection causes symptoms such as watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and fatigue, and can last from days to over a month if untreated, sometimes leading to complications like malabsorption and reactive arthritis.
- Health officials advise thoroughly washing fresh produce under running water before consumption, even if labeled prewashed, and recommend clinicians test for cyclosporiasis in patients with severe or prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms.
