Outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite grows to more than 1,000 cases
Summary
Nearly 1,000 people in Michigan have been infected with a parasite called Cyclospora, causing diarrhea. The outbreak started in June and is one of the largest in the state’s history. Similar cases are also reported in nearby Ohio.Key Facts
- Cyclospora is a tiny parasite that causes watery diarrhea and stomach illness.
- The illness is usually treated with antibiotics and is not often deadly.
- Michigan recorded 992 cases and about 40 hospitalizations as of late July.
- Ohio, especially Lucas County, has also reported over 300 cases.
- The parasite spreads through feces and often contaminates fruits or vegetables.
- Outbreaks are hard to trace because the parasite is difficult to detect and grow in labs.
- Cyclospora infections have increased in the U.S. over the last decade, possibly due to climate change and better testing.
- Past large outbreaks include one caused by raspberries in 1997 and another linked to basil in 2019.
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