Cyclospora Outbreak Investigation
CDC Investigates Widespread Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Affecting 17 States, Hospitalizing 20
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The CDC is hunting for the source of a spreading parasitic outbreak that has sickened at least 145 people across 17 states, according to KOMO News. The culprit is Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis — an illness known for triggering severe, sometimes explosive diarrhea.
About 20 people have been hospitalized with serious symptoms, CBS Austin reported. Investigators have not yet pinpointed a single food source, making the outbreak especially difficult to contain.
What Cyclospora Does to the Human Body
Cyclospora is a parasite too small to see without a microscope. People get infected by swallowing contaminated food or water. Once inside the gut, it causes watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue. Symptoms can last for weeks if left untreated, according to News 3 Las Vegas.
The illness is not spread person to person. That makes it almost certainly tied to a shared food or water source. Doctors can treat it with antibiotics, but patients first need a correct diagnosis — which requires specific lab testing not done in routine checkups.
145 Cases Spread Across 17 States and Rising
The CDC has confirmed at least 145 cases in 17 states so far, KOMO News reported. Roughly 20 of those patients needed hospital care due to the severity of their symptoms. Health officials believe the true number of infections is likely much higher, since many people never get tested.
Cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the U.S. have often been linked to fresh produce imported from tropical regions. Past outbreaks have been traced to items like raspberries, basil, snow peas, and salad mix. But this time, the specific food has not been identified, according to ABC 6 On Your Side.
CDC Scrambles to Identify the Contaminated Food Source
Investigators are interviewing sick patients about what they ate before falling ill. This process, called traceback, involves comparing food histories across dozens of unconnected people. Finding a common item across 17 states is painstaking work, Bakersfield Now reported.
Cyclospora is killed by cooking but survives on raw produce. That makes fresh fruits and vegetables the most likely suspects. Until a source is confirmed, the CDC has not issued a specific food recall or warning. Officials are urging anyone with prolonged diarrhea lasting more than a few days to see a doctor and ask to be tested for the parasite.
Why These Outbreaks Keep Happening Every Summer
Cyclosporiasis cases in the U.S. tend to spike between May and August. The parasite thrives in tropical climates, and much of America's fresh produce during summer months comes from regions where Cyclospora is more common in soil and water. WGME noted this outbreak follows a familiar seasonal pattern.
The CDC has investigated multiple large Cyclospora outbreaks over the past decade. In 2018, over 1,000 people were sickened in an outbreak tied to McDonald's salads. Outbreaks have also been linked to pre-packaged vegetable trays. Food safety experts say better testing at the point of import could help catch contamination earlier, before thousands of packages reach store shelves.
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