Lansing, Michigan – A summer stomach illness is moving through parts of Michigan at a speed state health officials say is far from normal. In just nine days, more than 170 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported across several counties, a sharp jump for a state that usually sees about 50 cases in an entire year.
That number is what has turned a foodborne illness investigation into a wider public health warning.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are now working with local health departments to find the source of the outbreak, while warning residents to pay close attention to sudden and lasting diarrhea, especially if more than one person in a household becomes sick.
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The outbreak was announced July 1, with state officials saying no cause had been identified yet. As of Tuesday, June 30, cases had been reported in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Livingston, Shiawassee and Jackson counties.
The largest number was in Monroe County, where 70 cases had been reported. Lenawee County had 33 cases, Washtenaw had 21, Wayne had 12, Jackson and Shiawassee each had seven, and 24 more cases were reported across 11 other counties and the City of Detroit.
The age range is also broad. State data showed patients from 8 years old to 84 years old. The average age was 44.3, while the median age was 41. That means this is not being seen as an illness affecting only one narrow group. It is touching children, adults and older residents, and officials expect the count may continue to climb.
“Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been occurring across the United States and now here in Michigan,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive.
“Based on the unusual number of cases we have identified in a little over a week, we anticipate additional cases of illness being reported. We recommend Michiganders contact their health care provider if they experience sudden, ongoing diarrhea and reach out to their local health department if additional members of their family are suffering from the same symptoms.”
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Cyclosporiasis is caused by Cyclospora cayatenensis, a parasite that can spread through food or water contaminated with feces.
It is commonly found in developing countries, but U.S. outbreaks have happened in recent years, often tied to contaminated fresh produce during warmer months. State officials said the illness is not known to spread from person to person.
Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure. They may include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and low-grade fever. Vomiting can happen, but officials said it is less common.
Health officials are urging anyone with sudden gastrointestinal illness to contact a health care provider. That matters because cyclosporiasis can improve significantly with antibiotic treatment.
Without treatment, symptoms may last for a few days, a month, or even longer. Providers in southeast Michigan are also being urged to consider cyclosporiasis when patients come in with acute stomach illness.
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At the same time, state food safety officials are focusing on prevention while investigators search for a common exposure. Jennifer Bonsky, director of the Human Food Division at MDARD, said the department is working with local health departments to identify the outbreak’s source and protect consumers.
“In these moments, it becomes even more important to follow all of the essential food preparation guidelines, such as washing your hands before and after preparing food and washing produce before it is consumed,” Bonsky said.
MDARD is recommending several basic steps for residents. Fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking. Firm produce, including melons and cucumbers, should be scrubbed with a clean produce brush.
Any damaged or bruised areas should be cut away before food is prepared or eaten. Cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables should be refrigerated as soon as possible.
The investigation is still open, and officials cautioned that not every case identified in the nine-day period may be linked to the same outbreak. State and local health workers are interviewing people who became ill to look for a shared source and prevent more cases.
Residents diagnosed with cyclosporiasis are being asked to cooperate with health department staff. Those interviews may be key to identifying what caused the outbreak. More information about the illness is available through the CDC’s cyclosporiasis page.