Cyclospora outbreak sickens U.S. produce consumers

4 min read

Health officials are investigating a large cyclospora outbreak that has sickened scores of people in the United States, with more than 1,500 confirmed cases in Michigan and related probes in 30 other states. The microscopic parasite infects the bowels and often causes weeks of watery diarrhea, though infections are generally treatable with antibiotics and rarely cause serious complications. Investigators have not identified a specific food source, and past outbreaks have been linked to items such as raspberries, basil, cilantro and salad mixes, so public health probes may take months and can be hard to resolve.

Wash hands with soap and water to reduce cyclospora risk.