Washtenaw and Monroe counties remain among the areas with the highest number of reported cases in a growing Michigan foodborne illness outbreak, state health officials said.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said July 4 that Michigan had reached 572 reported cases of cyclosporiasis, up from 170 on June 30. Cases remain highest in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland and Livingston counties.
Health officials have not identified a specific farm, supplier or type of produce as the source.
What is cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite called Cyclospora. People can get sick after eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite.
Symptoms often include frequent, watery diarrhea. People may also have stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite or weight loss. Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure, but they can start sooner or later.
Without treatment, the illness can last from a few days to more than a month, and symptoms may go away and come back.
What produce should people be careful with?
The state health department is recommending extra food safety steps, especially for Southeast Michigan residents, restaurants and commercial kitchens that serve raw fruits and vegetables.
Foods linked to past Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States and Canada include bagged salad mixes and kits, cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions.
Health officials recommend washing fresh produce under clean running water, even if it will be peeled. When possible, they recommend choosing whole heads of lettuce instead of prewashed bagged lettuce or salad mixes, removing the outer leaves and washing the inner leaves.
For herbs such as cilantro and basil, officials recommend washing the leaves thoroughly. For green onions, they recommend trimming the root end, removing the outer layer and washing them well.
Raspberries can be harder to clean because of their bumpy surface. Cooking produce is the safest option when possible, according to the department.
When should people seek care?
The recommendations are especially important for people who are more likely to become dehydrated or seriously ill, including young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, chemotherapy patients and organ transplant recipients.
People with sudden or ongoing diarrhea should contact a health care provider and their local health department. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says testing for Cyclospora may need to be specifically requested because it is not always included in routine stool testing.
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