Cyclospora Outbreak Hits U.S. with Record Cases, Hospitals See Surge in Diarrheal Illness
More than 11,500 cases of cyclospora infection have been reported across 41 states since May, prompting health officials to warn of severe watery diarrhea and advise testing and hydration.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded over 11,500 confirmed or probable cyclospora infections in 41 states since May 1, far exceeding the typical annual total of around 3,000 cases. At least 308 patients have been hospitalized, with the largest cluster concentrated in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. Health investigators have linked shredded iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico and sold at a national fast-food chain to the multistate outbreak, though they say additional sources are likely.
Emergency physicians in Michigan describe the current surge as unusually large for the summer season. > "It’s not atypical to see small outbreaks or occasional cases, and June and July tend to be the highest time, but this one seems particularly significant," said Dr. Jaime Hope of Corewell Health Emergency Center. She noted that on some shifts, roughly half of patients presented with stool-related complaints. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 7,664 cases and 160 hospitalizations in the state, compared with an average of about 50 cases per year.
Doctors say the infection’s hallmark is profuse, watery diarrhea that can occur several times a day for days to weeks, often accompanied by intense abdominal cramping, bloating and marked fatigue. > "People often describe it as feeling lots of gurgling and painful cramping before they have an episode," explained Dr. Brad Uren of the University of Michigan Medical School. The illness typically does not cause vomiting or high fever, distinguishing it from many other food-borne illnesses.
Symptoms usually appear one to 14 days after exposure, making it difficult for patients to pinpoint the contaminated food. Diagnosis requires a specific stool test, as cyclospora is not included in routine gastrointestinal panels. > "I think I’ve ordered more in the last month or so than I have in the previous many years combined," Dr. Hope said.
The standard treatment is a seven- to ten-day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which shortens the illness and reduces diarrhea. While the medication is generally well tolerated, doctors note that healthy individuals often recover with supportive care, hydration and rest over several weeks. Hospitalization is uncommon, occurring in less than 5% of cases, and primarily among the elderly, young children or immunocompromised patients.
Health officials advise anyone with persistent diarrhea, signs of dehydration or severe symptoms to seek medical attention promptly, and recommend thorough washing of fresh produce while staying alert to any recall notices.