On Monday, health officials in Michigan reported two deaths linked to cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the parasite cyclospora, which spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces.
Both people who died had “significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration,” according to an update posted to the Michigan health department’s website.
The infection, which causes severe diarrhea that can last from a few days to a month or more, is typically treated with antibiotics. Deaths from cyclosporiasis are uncommon in the United States, said Matthew Moore, a food safety microbiologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. But lengthy bouts of diarrhea can be dangerous for vulnerable groups including infants, older adults and those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.
The deaths come during the worst year on record for cyclosporiasis in the United States. Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed or is investigating more than 18,000 cases in 45 states, and has reported 423 hospitalizations.
Michigan, which is at the center of a nine-state outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, has reported that 11,234 people have become infected and 193 have been hospitalized. Though health officials there say that they are cautiously optimistic that the outbreak in Michigan is starting to wane. During the weeks that began on July 13 and 20, Michigan reported around 3,500 new cases per week. Last week, the state’s health department reported just over 2,000 new cases.
“We have growing confidence that the outbreak is declining,” said Laina Stebbins, a spokeswoman for Michigan’s health department. But health experts say it is still too early to tell whether cases nationwide are headed in a similar direction.