US outbreak of parasite causing ‘watery diarrhea’ rises to more than 2,800 cases
Summary
Thousands of people in Michigan and Ohio have caught cyclosporiasis, a parasite that causes watery diarrhea and weight loss. Health officials say delays in tracking the illness are worse because of recent federal budget cuts to local health departments and programs that monitor food-related diseases.Key Facts
- Over 2,800 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported, mainly in Michigan (2,640 cases) and Ohio (177 cases).
- Symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 843 confirmed and 1,500 suspected cases across 31 states.
- Eighty-six people have been hospitalized; no deaths have occurred.
- The parasite has a two-week incubation period, making it hard to track where people got infected.
- Federal cuts in 2025 reduced funding to state and local health departments by $11.4 billion.
- The FoodNet program that monitored eight foodborne pathogens was scaled back to focus on only two pathogens.
- Health officials recommend thoroughly washing or cooking leafy greens, snow peas, some herbs, and raspberries to avoid infection.
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