Cyclosporiasis Source Mystery
Cyclosporiasis Cases Surge Past 1,000 as Mystery Source Eludes Investigators
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Cases of cyclosporiasis — a parasitic illness known for causing explosive diarrhea — have surged past 1,000 in the United States this summer, according to Mahoning Matters. Federal and state investigators are scrambling to find the source, but so far no common cause has been identified across multiple clusters of the disease.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a tiny parasite usually found on fresh produce. It tends to spike every summer, but this year's outbreak is drawing alarm — and investigators still have no answers on where the contamination is coming from, Island Packet reported.
Why This Parasite Is So Hard to Track Down
Most foodborne illness outbreaks are solved using whole genome sequencing, or WGS. This tool reads the exact DNA of a pathogen and links sick people to a common source. It worked well for E. coli and listeria outbreaks. But cyclospora is different — the parasite is extremely hard to grow in a lab, and collecting clean DNA from it is a major challenge, according to Star-Telegram.
Because WGS is not routinely used for cyclospora, investigators lose one of their best tools. That leaves health officials relying on patient interviews and food records — a much slower and less reliable method of connecting the dots.
Long Incubation Period Makes Food Recall Nearly Impossible
One of the biggest hurdles is time. After a person is exposed to cyclospora, it takes about one week on average before symptoms appear, Mod Bee reported. That week-long gap makes it very hard for sick people to remember exactly what they ate.
Food safety attorney Bill Marler put it plainly: it is harder for people to remember what they ate days ago, especially specific ingredients or restaurants. "It is more cumbersome to recall foods or restaurants," he said. By the time someone gets sick, the meal that made them ill is a distant memory.
Fresh Produce Linked to Past Outbreaks, But Not Yet This One
Cyclospora outbreaks have been tied to fresh produce before. The last major outbreak linked to a specific food happened when contaminated parsley sickened nearly 1,000 people across 37 states, according to Island Packet. Investigators eventually named parsley as the likely source — but it took a long investigation to get there.
This summer's outbreak has not yet produced a similar breakthrough. No single food or supplier has been flagged. The parasite is believed to enter the food supply through contaminated water used to irrigate crops, but with no WGS tool to connect cases, the hunt continues without a clear lead.
What Cyclosporiasis Feels Like and Who Is Most at Risk
The illness hits hard. Symptoms include watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss. Without treatment, symptoms can last weeks or even months. The antibiotic combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the standard treatment, according to Star-Telegram.
People with weakened immune systems face the greatest danger. The disease is not spread person to person — you can only get it by swallowing food or water that carries the parasite. Health officials urge people to wash produce thoroughly and seek a doctor if symptoms appear after eating fresh fruits or vegetables.
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