Key facts
- Over 3,000 people have been infected with cyclosporiasis across 31 US states.
- The parasitic infection causes frequent, watery diarrhea and has a one-to-two-week incubation period.
- Tracing the outbreak's source is challenging due to the parasite's nature and complex testing requirements.
- Cuts to federal health agencies, including FoodNet, are cited as a factor hindering investigations.
- Michigan and New York are the most affected states, with over 2,600 cases in Michigan alone.
- Health officials recommend washing produce and cooking vegetables, but the source remains unidentified.
Public health officials are struggling to identify the source of a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States, which causes frequent, watery diarrhea. The parasitic infection has now reached 31 states and infected over 3,000 people, with Michigan reporting the highest number of cases.
Experts told the BBC that tracing the parasite is particularly challenging due to its long incubation period of one to two weeks, unlike many foodborne illnesses that manifest symptoms within hours. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the contaminated food source. Additionally, testing for the cyclospora parasite is complex, requiring the washing of large quantities of produce to isolate the organism.
Given the scale of the outbreak, investigators suspect multiple points of contamination within the food supply. The situation is further complicated by reported cuts to federal health agencies, including the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), which previously monitored such pathogens. This reduction in capacity means investigators are starting with less data than usual.
Despite these challenges, health officials are interviewing affected individuals about their recent food consumption to identify common links. They advise the public to thoroughly wash produce, avoid certain fruits like raspberries, and cook vegetables to kill the pathogen. However, the specific sources of the outbreak remain unidentified.