What to know
- An outbreak of explosive diarrhea caused by the parasite cyclospora has hit the midwestern states of Michigan and Ohio hard, logging thousands of cases
- Cyclospora is a parasite and is found in human feces and can be unknowingly consumed in fresh produce
- Authorities in the United States are currently investigating Taco Bell and various lettuce suppliers.
An outbreak of explosive diarrhea caused by the parasite cyclosporiasis has risen to thousands of cases in the Midwestern United States and a popular fast food chain may be behind it.
Over the past few weeks, Michigan and Ohio have logged over 3,000 cases of watery diarrhea caused by the microscopic parasite cyclosporiasis, or cyclospora. According to PBS, 31 other states have logged cases of the disease as well.
Authorities in the U.S. are currently investigating Taco Bell and various lettuce suppliers as possible sources for the outbreak.
Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at Toronto General Hospital, explained that while wealthy countries like Canada and the United States have seen small outbreaks from time to time, usually related to fruits and vegetables that are infected with cyclosporiasis, an outbreak of this magnitude is rare.
“We also see it occasionally in travellers who are returning to Canada from typically lower middle income countries, because they’ve eaten contaminated food or drank contaminated water with this parasitic infection,” Bogoch said.
What is cyclosporiasis?
What does it mean for fresh produce to be contaminated with cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a parasite found in human feces, and people can unknowingly consume it through food. The parasite usually has a one week incubation period before symptoms start showing up in a person’s system.
But unlike other infectious illnesses that cause diarrhea, such as norovirus, Bogoch said most cases of cyclospora caused diarrhea is through eating food.
“The reason is because the parasite has to have about six or seven days outside of a human host in the right environment to fully develop before it can be infectious,” he explained.
Usually when there’s an outbreak this large, Bogoch said health authorities can easily identify the source and quickly remove it from shelves or restaurants.
However, this outbreak is notable because no one knows for sure what the culprit is yet.
How to stay safe
Bogoch said he’s confident there’s no need to worry in Canada as cases haven’t made their way up north yet. But for travellers who are visiting Michigan, Ohio, or lower income countries where the parasite is endemic, he said people should “boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.”
This means if you don’t want to boil or cook veggies or fruit over high heat, then peeling back the outside layer is your best bet to avoid contracting the parasite. If you’re really uncertain about whether a piece of produce is good to eat, throw it in the garbage.
For those who have contracted cyclospora induced diarrhea, Bogoch advised a treatment of fluid or electrolytes. If you’re frail, older, or immunocompromised, it could lead to a more serious infection where medical attention might be necessary.
