A massive foodborne parasite outbreak causing severe gastrointestinal illness across the country has spread into six additional states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded the scope of the nation’s largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states. Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina were added to the list of impacted areas. Federal health authorities have recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis alongside approximately 11,500 suspected cases awaiting confirmation. Two people died after falling ill in Michigan. They had “significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration,” health authorities said. Although cases have been reported in 45 states since May, most suspected infections remain concentrated in Michigan and Ohio. The food poisoning form is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea, appetite loss, bloating, extreme fatigue, low-grade fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. It spreads via the fecal-oral route through contaminated food or water, and symptoms typically begin roughly a week after infection. Without treatment, the uncomfortable ordeal can linger for a few days to a month or longer, with officials advising sickened individuals to stay well hydrated.
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