Cyclosporiasis Cases Rise as Source Remains Unknown

Michigan’s cyclosporiasis case count has reached 572, while health officials still have not named a specific produce type, grower or supplier as the source.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said cases had climbed by July 4, only days after the state reported 170 cases on June 30.

Michigan Cases Are Far Above a Normal Year

MDHHS said Michigan typically identifies around 50 cyclosporiasis cases in a year. The current count has moved far beyond that level in a short window.

The state said the highest case numbers remain in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland and Livingston counties.

Health officials said no specific produce grower, supplier or produce type had been identified as the source as of the July 4 update.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite. People can become infected by consuming food or water containing the parasite.

📰 Read Also: Michigan Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Grows to 170+ Cases

CDC Count Shows Why the Numbers Can Look Different

The CDC’s July 1 surveillance update listed 145 U.S.-acquired cases across 17 states among people who became sick from May 1 through June 16.

CDC also listed 20 hospitalizations and no deaths among the 145 people with available information.

Those numbers do not contradict Michigan’s newer count. They reflect different reporting windows, different jurisdictions and preliminary surveillance data.

CDC said there was currently no evidence of a single multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases. Instead, officials described the count as surveillance while several clusters remain under investigation.

📰 Read Also: CDC Tracks Cyclospora Cases as Source Remains Unknown

The Source Question Is the Center of the Story

The important issue is no longer only the number of confirmed illnesses.

Public health investigators still need to identify whether a common food item, supplier, distributor or preparation setting links enough cases to explain the outbreak pattern.

That takes time because investigators rely on interviews, food histories, shopping records, restaurant data and traceback work across multiple supply chains.

MDHHS is asking diagnosed residents to participate in public health interviews. Those interviews can help narrow what people ate before symptoms began.

📰 Read Also: Rare Tick-Borne Virus Powassan Is Spreading Fast in the US

What Michigan Residents Are Being Told to Do

MDHHS is urging residents and food-service operators to reduce risk when handling fresh produce.

The state recommends washing produce under clean running water, scrubbing firm produce, sanitizing utensils and surfaces, refrigerating cut or cooked fruits and vegetables quickly, and cooking produce when possible.

The agency also listed foods that have been linked to previous Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States and Canada, including bagged salad mixes, cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions.

People with sudden ongoing gastrointestinal illness are being encouraged to contact a health care provider and reach out to their local health department.

The unanswered question is whether those prevention steps can limit exposure before investigators identify the source.

Sources

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services July 4 update:

CDC cyclosporiasis surveillance:

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