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What is cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea?
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora, which spreads through raw produce and contaminated water exposed to human feces, with symptoms including watery diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and fatigue lasting from days to over a month.
- In the US, cyclosporiasis outbreaks are seasonal, typically occurring between May and August, and have been linked to contaminated raw fruits, vegetables, and herbs such as basil, cilantro, berries, and spinach.
- Past significant outbreaks include a 1996 event linked to Guatemalan raspberries and a 2019 outbreak tied to Mexican basil, with some outbreaks affecting over 1,000 people; a 2022 surge in Florida was caused by contaminated lettuce in packaged salad kits.
- Prevention focuses on avoiding contaminated food and water, thoroughly washing fresh produce, especially those with crevices like berries and leafy greens, and cooking produce when possible to kill the parasite.
- Health officials advise purchasing whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed or bagged salad mixes and removing outer leaves before washing to reduce the risk of infection.
