Two people have died following an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that can cause 'explosive diarrhoea', US health officials said. The individuals, both from Michigan, had significant underlying health conditions that may have been worsened by the infection and dehydration.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recorded 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases nationwide, with a further 11,500 suspected cases. The illness is not generally life-threatening and usually resolves within days to weeks.
Cases have climbed to record levels this year, driven in part by contaminated lettuce that was recalled and sold at Taco Bell, a Yum Brands-owned chain. While the Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak to that lettuce, infections continue to rise as other sources are investigated.
In Michigan, officials said the sheer number of cases and gaps in reporting make it hard to pinpoint a source. Susan Ringler Cerniglia, spokesperson for the Washtenaw County Health Department, said: '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 said the outbreak is under control, but 'case counts are exploding'.
The UK Health Security Agency advises travellers to tropical and subtropical countries to take precautions, including washing hands regularly, drinking bottled water, and eating freshly cooked hot food, as cyclosporiasis is not naturally occurring in the UK.
Source: metro.co.uk
