Michigan health officials are investigating a parasite outbreak that reached more than 300 cyclosporiasis cases in Southeast Michigan within a week. The case count climbed from at least 170 on July 1 to at least 300 by Thursday.
Cases were reported in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson and Livingston counties, along with 24 cases in 11 other Michigan counties, including Detroit. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are working to find the common exposure.
That pace stands out in Michigan, which typically reports around 50 cyclosporiasis cases per year. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora that infects the small intestine, and people can become sick about one week after exposure, though the period can run from two days to two weeks or more.
Michigan counties and Detroit
Health officials said the outbreak spans seven counties in Southeast Michigan and reaches beyond that cluster into 11 other Michigan counties. The affected area includes Detroit, putting the investigation across a wider footprint than a single local cluster.
Michigan health officials are still trying to determine what food or water source carried the parasite. In the United States, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to fresh produce, so finding the shared exposure is the step that will narrow what people need to avoid.
Cyclosporiasis symptoms
People with cyclosporiasis may have watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements. The illness can last from a few days to over a month if it is not treated, and symptoms can return after improving. Healthcare providers can diagnose it with a stool sample, and anyone with symptoms should see their healthcare provider.
Samantha Sayles reported the outbreak update and the basic illness details. For people in the affected counties, the immediate practical question is simple: watch for symptoms and seek care quickly if they appear, because the investigation has not yet tied the cases to one source.
