Cyclospora Outbreak Widens in Michigan, Spreading Through Midwest and New York

Overview

• Michigan has become the outbreak epicenter with about 1,251 reported cases, a sudden rise that state officials confirmed on Thursday.
• Health agencies including the CDC and FDA are investigating exposures to fresh produce and water but have not yet found one common contaminated product.
• The parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis causes prolonged watery diarrhea that can last days to months and is treatable with specific antibiotics; young children, older adults, and immunocompromised people face higher risk.
• Reported counts likely understate the true number of infections because specific laboratory tests for Cyclospora are not always ordered and some patients have needed hospitalization, including 28 hospitalizations reported in Ohio.
• Authorities recommend careful handling of leafy greens and other fresh produce, avoiding raw high-risk items when possible, and watching for further public-health updates as investigators trace supply chains and exposures.