US Cyclosporiasis Cases Hit 5,000 as Michigan Probes Lettuce in 3,309-Case Outbreak
Updated
Updated · TODAY · Jul 14
US Cyclosporiasis Cases Hit 5,000 as Michigan Probes Lettuce in 3,309-Case Outbreak
3 articles · Updated · TODAY · Jul 14
Summary
About 5,000 cyclosporiasis cases have been reported across more than 30 states, with Michigan alone accounting for 3,309 cases and 44 hospitalizations as of July 14.
Michigan health officials said early findings point to lettuce or salad greens as a possible source, though no specific produce type, grower or supplier has been identified and other foods remain under investigation.
The CDC has confirmed 843 cases and 86 hospitalizations since May 1, but says there is no evidence yet of a single multistate outbreak and multiple unrelated clusters may be occurring.
Cyclospora usually spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces, often via raw produce; experts say tracing outbreaks is difficult because symptoms can take up to 10 days to appear and source interviews may come weeks later.
Health officials are not advising Americans to avoid fresh produce broadly, but Michigan is urging affected counties to buy whole heads of lettuce, discard outer leaves, wash inner leaves and cook greens to 158F when possible.