Michigan records over 3,300 cyclosporiasis cases as new infections surge

Michigan health officials said Tuesday that the state added more than 700 new cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes diarrhea, raising the cumulative count to over 3,300. The outbreak, which has been reported in 31 states, is still under investigation. Preliminary findings from the state’s health department suggest that lettuce or other salad greens may be linked to the spread, but officials cautioned that no definitive source has been identified and other foods cannot be ruled out. > "Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation," said Michigan chief medical executive Natasha Bagdasarian. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is collaborating with state and federal partners on the investigation, though it has not yet pinpointed a cause. The surge follows the CDC's decision last year to remove cyclospora from its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, a move that narrowed the program’s focus to Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Some experts expressed concern that scaling back surveillance could hinder detection of rising foodborne illnesses. > "CDC is backing off on one of their best surveillance systems," said Dr. J. Glenn Morris, director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida. Cyclosporiasis is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water; it does not spread directly between people. Symptoms typically include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramping, bloating and gas, and may appear weeks after exposure. Health authorities recommend basic hygiene measures such as hand washing and thorough rinsing of produce to reduce risk.