Two people have died following an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that can cause explosive diarrhoea. Both individuals lived in Michigan and had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by the infection and dehydration, according to US health officials.
Record cases across the US
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases nationwide, with a further 11,500 suspected cases. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness that spreads through food or water contaminated with infected human faeces. It is not generally life-threatening and usually resolves within a few days to a few weeks.
Cases have climbed to record levels this year, driven at least in part by contaminated lettuce that was later recalled and found in products sold at Yum Brands-owned Taco Bell. While the Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak to the lettuce, infections continue to rise as the agency investigates other possible sources.
Challenges in identifying the source
Officials in Michigan said the sheer number of cases, combined with gaps in reporting and people being unable to recall what they ate, is making it hard to determine a source. Susan Ringler Cerniglia, spokesperson for the Washtenaw County Health Department, where 875 cases have been reported, said: 'We have one clear implicated food, but it doesn’t explain everything.'
She said mixed messaging from the US Department of Health and Human Services had also complicated the response. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said the outbreak is under control. 'Leadership is saying things that don’t really fit with what the data is telling us, and that’s very, very problematic,' Ms Ringler Cerniglia said. 'The secretary is saying this is under control and it’s all good while you have case counts exploding.'
UK guidance for travellers
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said cyclosporiasis does not occur naturally in the UK but is found in several tropical and subtropical countries. It recommends travellers to those countries bring a basic first aid kit – including hand sanitiser and oral rehydration sachets – and ensure they have 'comprehensive' travel insurance.
Symptoms can include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating, wind, nausea, fever, tiredness, muscle aches, and loss of appetite or weight. The agency also suggests taking precautions to minimise the risk of infection, including regularly washing hands, drinking only bottled water and avoiding ice, eating freshly cooked food served hot, and being cautious with smoothies and juices, which may contain raw fruit or vegetables.
