Michigan Links Cyclosporiasis Outbreak To Lettuce, Lettuce Greens, Cases Surpass 2,600 | Today’s news
Health officials in Michigan said Monday that lettuce or other vegetables may be the source of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the United States, according to a Reuters report.
The number of cyclosporiasis cases in the state shot up to 2,640 cases, showing an increase of 1,000 cases since the last update on Friday.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has reported a total of 44 hospitalizations and no deaths so far.
The infection, which occurs through contaminated water or food, has spread rapidly across the state since it began in May and has now been detected in a number of states.
Although the investigation currently points to contaminated salad greens or lettuce, scientists have not yet ruled out other foods. No specific type of grower, supplier or produce has been linked to the outbreak, Michigan health officials said, according to Reuters.
Earlier outbreaks were linked to raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas and salad mixes, Reuters reported.
Outbreaks have previously occurred in fresh foods such as bagged salad mixes, as well as some herbs.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that cyclosporiasis infections generally increase during the spring and summer months, a season that runs from May to August.
According to the CDC website on July 9, the infection has affected 843 individuals in 31 states, 86 of whom required hospitalization. At the time, the CDC said approximately 1,500 additional cases were needed for further analysis and confirmation.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis
Symptoms usually appear within a few days of eating contaminated food and include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue. If left untreated, the illness can last from a few days to a month or longer and may recur after symptoms initially subside, the CDC said.
The CDC said its surveillance data only includes laboratory-confirmed cases reported by states, while state data may include both probable and confirmed cases, which may lead to a higher number of cases.
The CDC also said that among the confirmed cases were people between the ages of five and 99.
Midwest epicenter
According to a Bloomberg report, the US Midwest was the epicenter of the outbreak, with Michigan alone reporting around 1,562 cases on Friday, a 25 percent jump from the previous day. Other states such as Illinois and New York also saw rate increases, the publication said.
How to stay safe
Dr. Erika Noel, an assistant professor at the Hawaii School of Medicine and a pediatrician on the island of Kauai, spoke to the Associated Press about how people can stay safe:
- When washing things like cilantro and basil, separate the leaves. For green onions, cut off the roots, remove the outer layer and run them under water, scrubbing the surface. Cooking produce to an internal temperature of 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) or higher will kill cyclospora.
2. Research shows that washing fruits and vegetables in vinegar can be helpful. Vinegar will not kill the parasite, but it can help remove it. Noel recommends submerging the crop in a bowl filled with three parts water and one part vinegar and rinsing with it for several minutes. Using a salad spinner to rinse with water can help get rid of the vinegar taste.
3. Noel also suggests picking a head of lettuce and removing the outer layer before buying pre-mixed lettuce and washing the individual leaves.
4. Before cutting into watermelons, scrub the outside as the knife can transfer germs from the rind to the fruit inside.
5. Peel fruits and vegetables as much as possible.
6. Don’t forget to wash the cutting boards and worktops.
