US Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Likely to Worsen, Experts Warn

US health authorities are grappling with a major outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes extreme gastrointestinal distress. As of Tuesday, there were nearly 7,000 potential cases, with over 3,300 in Michigan alone. State officials have identified contaminated lettuce as the likely source.

Experts warn that the true number of cases is almost certainly much higher. Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, says that because most people with diarrhea do not seek medical care and labs do not routinely test for cyclosporiasis, the actual count could be at least double the CDC's figures.

The Cyclospora parasite is resistant to common sanitizers like chlorine used in produce washing and water treatment. It can lodge in crevices of fruits and vegetables, making thorough commercial cleaning ineffective. Cooking destroys the parasite, but lettuce and berries are often consumed raw, increasing risk.

Historically, most US cyclosporiasis cases were linked to imported produce, but recent years have seen domestic outbreaks. In one incident, bagged lettuce from an Illinois plant sickened over 700 people.

Bill Marler, a food poisoning attorney, compares cyclospora to invasive pythons in Florida's Everglades. As more people get infected and excrete the parasite, it can contaminate water supplies, leading to larger outbreaks. He notes that water contamination is likely the cause, not individual workers.

Norman Beatty, an infectious disease expert at the University of Florida, believes thousands more may be infected across the country. He warns that the outbreak could spread to all 50 states, highlighting how easily a pathogen can move through food distribution networks.