Michigan health officials link lettuce to nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak

Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services said lettuce and other salad greens are the most frequently mentioned food items among more than 1,000 interviews with people infected by the Cyclospora parasite. > "Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation," Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive of MDHHS, said. The agency cautioned that other produce cannot be ruled out and no specific grower or supplier has been identified. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 843 cases nationwide as of July 9, while Michigan alone recorded 2,640 cases by July 13. The CDC acknowledged the discrepancy and is working with states to reconcile the data. Michigan and New York currently have the highest case counts, followed by Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois and New Jersey, with additional cases reported in dozens of other states. Cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite, typically spreads through consumption of food or water contaminated with fecal matter. Symptoms appear within two to 14 days and include watery, often explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, vomiting and other flu-like signs. Although rarely fatal, the illness can persist for weeks without antibiotic treatment and may recur. The CDC advises consumers to wash raw produce thoroughly and follow safe food-handling practices to lower the risk of infection.