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Parasite Outbreak Surges: Are Your Produce Washed?
15 Jul
Summary
- Over 215 cyclosporiasis cases confirmed statewide as of Tuesday.
- Michigan faces a major outbreak with over 3,300 confirmed cases.
- Lettuce or salad greens are potential sources in the Michigan outbreak.
As of Tuesday, Illinois has reported more than 215 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness, with 18 hospitalizations recorded. The number of cases has significantly increased since the previous week.
Neighboring Michigan is experiencing a much larger outbreak, with over 3,300 cases reported, making it the nation's biggest. Health officials there are investigating lettuce and salad greens as potential sources of contamination.
Cyclosporiasis is contracted through contaminated food or water, with common symptoms including watery diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea. Experts note that outbreaks on this scale are unusual, and the true number of cases may be underreported due to the time lag between infection and symptom onset.
Preventative measures include thorough hand washing, cleaning food preparation surfaces, washing raw produce in cold water, and cooking fruits and vegetables. While vinegar may offer some cleaning benefits, the CDC recommends cutting away bruised areas and refrigerating prepared produce promptly.
