- An outbreak of a diarrhea-causing cyclospora parasite is currently spreading across the United States, with infection tallies continuing to rise significantly.
- Michigan is the hardest-hit state, reporting 1,251 cases and 44 hospitalizations, a substantial increase from 700 cases earlier this week, while New York has nearly 400 cases, and Ohio and North Carolina each have approximately 200.
- Federal health officials are investigating potential sources of exposure, noting that there is currently no evidence of one common reason linking the infections, though past outbreaks have been tied to contaminated produce like cilantro and leafy greens.
- Infections can cause flu-like illness and severe gastrointestinal symptoms that sometimes require hospitalization, including watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 531 cases as federal data lags behind state figures.
- Doctors recommend treatment with antibiotics for cyclosporiasis, and prevention involves avoiding potentially contaminated sources, thoroughly cleaning and cooking food, and heating it to 158 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasite.
IN FULL
