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What to know about the parasitic infection, symptoms and latest cases
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Over 700 cases of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora, have been confirmed in Michigan within the last few weeks, with numbers expected to rise to around 1,000 as the outbreak spreads rapidly.
- The source of the outbreak remains unknown, prompting health officials to investigate patients' grocery and restaurant histories, while testing demand has overwhelmed laboratories, causing delays in diagnosis.
- Cyclosporiasis symptoms include severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and loss of appetite; it is treated with antibiotics but can last weeks if untreated and does not spread person-to-person.
- The outbreak is primarily concentrated in southeastern Michigan but cases have also been reported in Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, and New Jersey, although no single multistate source has been confirmed.
- Health officials advise thoroughly washing produce, buying whole heads of lettuce and removing outer leaves, and note that cooking is the only guaranteed method to kill the parasite, as rinsing and freezing may not be fully effective.
