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Good morning. I dedicate the first item in today’s newsletter to a friend who is suffering from what she suspects to be cyclosporiasis. Feel free to forward this email to your friends who need information but are scared to wade through online discussions on the outbreak.
What to know about the parasitic diarrhea outbreak
You’ve probably seen the memes about a parasitic illness called cyclosporiasis, better known for its accompanying intestinal unrest and diarrhea. As of yesterday, 1,645 cases have been lab-confirmed in the U.S., with more than 5,100 cases pending further analysis, according to the CDC — substantially higher than normal. Federal health officials still do not know what type(s) of produce or which suppliers the outbreak may be linked to, but going forward will offer updates “at least weekly,” according to Gwen Biggerstaff from the agency’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases.
Part of the trouble with tracing potential sources of the illness is that it can take up to two weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear. Officials in Michigan (one of four states the CDC suspects to be part of a major cluster in the outbreak) issued a tentative warning this week that lettuce or salad greens may be involved. The Washington Post reported yesterday that Taco Bell is being investigated. Generally, federal officials advise that people rinse and cook their fresh produce before consuming to stay safe. Read more in a new First Opinion essay about why we still don’t know the source of the outbreak and how consumers may be haphazardly filling the information vacuum.
