An Outbreak of Diarrhea From a Parasite Is Surging. Here’s What to Eat and What to Avoid
Officials say the outbreak is one of the largest on record, with delayed symptoms and contaminated produce complicating source tracing.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 7,000 confirmed and suspected cyclospora cases across 34 states, with more than 100 hospitalized, mostly in Michigan.
- Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite spread through contaminated food or water rather than person-to-person contact, typically when raw produce contacts irrigation water tainted by human waste.
- Dr. Francesca Torriani, program director of infection prevention at UC San Diego Health, described symptoms as "watery, explosive diarrhea that can also be some nausea, some vomiting, and then some low-grade fever." Prevention requires thoroughly washing produce.
- Authorities have not identified the outbreak's source, complicating prevention efforts. Taco Bell temporarily removed fresh produce from select Midwest locations as a precaution, though officials confirmed no link to the parasite.
- The Trump Administration's cuts to the FoodNet surveillance program have complicated tracking efforts, while the parasite's complex genome hinders linking scattered infections to a single origin.
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30 Articles
Q&A: How to Stay Safe From Cyclospora, the Parasite Causing Stomach Bug Outbreak
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Dubbed the “nightmare stomach bug,” with nearly 7,000 currently confirmed or suspected cases of cyclosporiasis in several U.S. states, including Pennsylvania, many consumers may be wondering how to protect themself from the foodborne illness, which is caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora and includes symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and fatigue. In this Q&A, experts from Penn State Extension and Penn State’s College…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) indicated that it was not considering imposing restrictions on imports of fresh fruit and vegetables from the United States, where thousands of people were infected with a diarrheal parasite.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Eat these foods if you’re worried about the ‘explosive diarrhea’ parasite
There are over 6,000 cases reported in more than 40 states
An outbreak of diarrhea from a parasite is surging. Here’s what to eat and what to avoid
(CNN) — Cases of diarrhea caused by the parasite cyclospora continue to climb, and with the threat of weekslong illness and no certainty about the source, it’s easy to wonder: Is there anything in the produce aisle that’s safe to…
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