US cyclosporiasis outbreak cases top 1,600, health officials expect count to rise

The United States is grappling with a significant outbreak of cyclosporiasis, with lab-confirmed cases now exceeding 1,645 across 34 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that as of Tuesday, 141 individuals have been hospitalized due to the intestinal infection, though no deaths have been linked to the outbreak.

This year's outbreak, which began on May 1, is notably larger and more widespread than previous occurrences. Health officials are concerned about its scale and geographic reach. Cyclosporiasis is typically contracted by consuming contaminated food, often raw fruits and vegetables, or water.

Officials are actively tracing the source of contamination through the supply chain, with potential links extending to the farm level. They are utilizing genetic sequencing to aid in this investigation. The CDC cautions that a lag of approximately six weeks exists between illness onset and case reporting, indicating that more infections are likely to be identified as data is processed. The agency is also reviewing over 5,100 additional cases that require further confirmation.