Two People Die as US Faces Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

Two people have died in the United States after getting infected with Cyclosporiasis. This is the first time deaths have been linked to the largest outbreak of the disease in the country.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite found in human waste.

The deaths happened in Michigan, which is the state most affected by the outbreak.

Reuters reported on Monday that Michigan health authorities said both patients had serious health issues that may have been made worse by the infection and the severe dehydration that comes with the illness.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 6,707 lab cases across the country as of 28 July. There are also more than 11,500 suspected cases that are waiting for lab confirmation.

Michigan has had 11,234 cases as of Monday, including 193 hospitalizations.

What is Cyclosporiasis?

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the small parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis.

According to the CDC, people get infected after eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with human faeces that contain the parasite.

While the disease is not usually deadly, it can make some people very sick.

Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, fatigue, and dehydration.

The CDC says that some infected people might not show symptoms, and if not treated, infections can last for weeks or even months. Symptoms may go away and then come back.

Investigation into the Outbreak

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked part of the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico, which was used in Taco Bell restaurants.

That lettuce has been recalled.

However, investigators think the contaminated lettuce does not explain all the reported infections. They are looking into whether other food sources might also be causing the outbreak.

Epidemiologists believe that there might be more than one outbreak happening at the same time.

Public health experts told Reuters that recent cuts to staff and funding in US health agencies might have slowed down efforts to investigate and control the outbreak.

Paul Bollyky, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine, said, "Cyclospora is harder to track than many foodborne pathogens because, unlike bacteria, it cannot be grown in the lab or easily genome-mapped to trace an outbreak."

Mr Bollyky warned that fewer staff in public health departments could make it harder to investigate and control outbreaks.

He said the size of the outbreak raises bigger questions about the safety of the US food supply.

"Anytime you have over 10,000 people infected with a foodborne pathogen, you do have to wonder whether this is a canary in the coal mine."