US diarrhea outbreak linked to parasite, over 4,100 cases confirmed

A widespread diarrhea outbreak in the United States, caused by the parasite Cyclospora, has affected over 4,173 confirmed cases since early May, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health authorities are investigating more than 7,400 additional cases, with infections reported across 41 states. So far, 308 individuals have required hospitalization, but no fatalities have been reported. The CDC suggests the actual number of infections could be significantly higher, as the illness often goes undetected or unreported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to suspect chopped iceberg lettuce from a Mexican supplier as the source, despite initial test results from one company, Taylor Farms, yielding a "false positive." The FDA stated that traceback investigations still point to the company's cut iceberg lettuce as the likely cause of the outbreak and will continue its investigation to ensure affected products are removed from the market. Cyclospora typically spreads through contaminated food or water and is not usually transmitted person-to-person. Symptoms include watery diarrhea and frequent, sometimes severe, bowel movements. Outbreaks of Cyclosporiasis commonly occur during the summer months.

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Since early May, 4,173 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been recorded.