The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the first two deaths linked to a record-breaking outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal infection causing severe diarrhoea. The deceased, both residents of Michigan, had significant underlying health conditions that may have been exacerbated by the infection and dehydration, according to US health officials.
Record case numbers and contaminated lettuce
As of the latest CDC data, 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases have been recorded nationwide, with an additional 11,500 suspected cases. This year's outbreak has reached unprecedented levels, driven at least in part by contaminated lettuce that was recalled and sold at Yum Brands-owned Taco Bell outlets. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked the outbreak to the lettuce, but infections continue to climb as investigators probe other potential sources.
Cyclosporiasis, caused by the Cyclospora parasite, spreads through food or water contaminated with infected human faeces. While the illness is rarely life-threatening and typically resolves within days to weeks, the sheer volume of cases this year has overwhelmed local health departments.
Michigan's struggle to pinpoint the source
Michigan officials report that the combination of high case numbers, reporting gaps, and patients' inability to recall their food history is hampering source identification. In Washtenaw County alone, 875 cases have been reported, making it one of the hardest-hit areas.
Susan Ringler Cerniglia, spokesperson for the Washtenaw County Health Department, stated: 'We have one clear implicated food, but it doesn’t explain everything.' She also criticised mixed messaging from the US Department of Health and Human Services, noting that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has declared the outbreak under control, a claim contradicted by the data.
'Leadership is saying things that don’t really fit with what the data is telling us, and that’s very, very problematic,' Ms Ringler Cerniglia said. 'The secretary is saying this is under control and it’s all good while you have case counts exploding.'
Travel warnings and prevention advice
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning for travellers to Mexico and other tropical destinations, where cyclospora infections have surged. The agency notes that the parasite is not naturally present in the UK but is found in several tropical and subtropical countries.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating, wind, nausea, fever, tiredness, muscle aches, and loss of appetite or weight. The UKHSA advises travellers to pack a basic first aid kit with hand sanitiser and oral rehydration sachets, and to secure comprehensive travel insurance.
Preventive measures include regular handwashing, drinking only bottled water, avoiding ice, eating freshly cooked hot food, and being cautious with smoothies and juices that may contain raw produce.
