Cyclospora Cases Top 10,000, Spreading to 47 States, CDC Reports

A parasitic illness called cyclosporiasis has now spread to 47 states across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on August 4. More than 10,000 cases have been confirmed in labs since May 1, making this one of the largest outbreaks of this disease ever recorded in the country. Health officials believe the biggest part of the outbreak is tied to a type of lettuce sold by a major food company. Two people have died, and hundreds more have been hospitalized.

The CDC reported 10,468 confirmed cases as of August 4. That number jumped by more than 3,700 in just one week. On top of that, at least 12,255 more cases have not yet been confirmed by labs, meaning the real total could be much higher. There have also been 517 hospitalizations connected to the outbreak.

The largest part of the outbreak is centered in Michigan. That state alone reported more than 11,000 cases and the first two deaths linked to the illness on August 4. Michigan's numbers are higher than the CDC's official count because not all cases have been verified and sent to federal health officials yet. Ohio is the second most affected state, and Washington, D.C., has also reported some cases.

Health officials have connected the biggest outbreak to iceberg lettuce grown by a company called Taylor Farms in central Mexico. Because of this link, Taylor Farms started a recall of the lettuce on July 17. The FDA confirmed that cases in nine states — including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia — are tied to this recalled lettuce. Officials figured this out by studying the 'DNA' of the infections to see if they matched each other.

So what exactly is cyclosporiasis? It is an infection caused by a tiny parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. People usually get it by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the parasite. It causes stomach problems that can feel a lot like food poisoning. The most common symptom is watery, frequent and sometimes 'explosive' diarrhea.

Other symptoms can include vomiting, loss of appetite, bloating, stomach cramps, extreme tiredness, fever, and nausea. Most people recover at home without needing to see a doctor, which is why many cases go unreported. However, people with weakened immune systems or other health problems can get much sicker. The illness is not usually deadly, which makes the two deaths in this outbreak especially concerning to health experts.

Tracking down the source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak is not easy. The parasite has a long incubation period, meaning people may not feel sick until days or even weeks after being exposed. Scientists also cannot use the same genetic tracking tools they use for other foodborne illnesses like E. coli or listeria. Because of these challenges, the CDC says it typically takes about six weeks from when a person gets sick to when that case is officially counted.

Only three states — Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana — have not reported any cases so far. The CDC only counts lab-confirmed cases in people who got sick on or after May 1 and who had not traveled internationally within two weeks before becoming ill. State health officials often report higher numbers than the CDC because they use different tracking and reporting methods. Federal health authorities say the investigation is ongoing.