Health officials are investigating a cluster of cyclospora illness cases in southeast Michigan, according to CBS News. Cyclospora is a parasitic infection caused by the organism Cyclospora cayetanensis. It typically spreads through food or water contaminated with feces from infected individuals.
The illness is most commonly linked to fresh produce, particularly items like fresh herbs, raspberries, snow peas, and basil that may be eaten raw. Investigators typically work to trace cases back to a common food source, though identifying the specific product can take time.
Symptoms of cyclospora infection include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue. The illness can last for weeks or cycle through periods of feeling better followed by feeling worse, which distinguishes it from some other gastrointestinal infections. It is treated with a combination antibiotic called trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
The number of confirmed cases in the southeast Michigan cluster was not specified in early reporting. Health officials did not immediately identify a confirmed food source connected to the outbreak. Investigations into foodborne illness clusters typically involve interviewing patients about what they ate in the days before becoming ill and comparing those reports to identify common exposures.
Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States are not uncommon during warmer months. The parasite does not spread directly from person to person in the way that some viruses do, which means outbreaks are generally tied to a contaminated product rather than person-to-person transmission at a particular location.
Residents in southeast Michigan who have experienced prolonged diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms are generally advised to contact a health care provider. Standard treatment is effective, but diagnosis requires a specific stool test that is not always included in routine testing, so patients may need to ask their provider to test specifically for cyclospora.
The investigation was ongoing at the time of reporting.
