Editor’s note: This story has been updated for clarity. The case counts in the opening paragraph are drawn from media reports as of July 2; the figures in the second paragraph reflect the July 1 MDHHS press release attached below.
A fast-moving outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness linked to contaminated fresh produce, has reached more than 300 cases across southeast Michigan, with 28 confirmed in Washtenaw County.
In a July 1 press release, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported that as of June 30, more than 170 cases have been identified across southeast Michigan, with 21 confirmed cases in Washtenaw County. The numbers have risen steadily since. According to The Detroit News, Michigan had 174 cases on Tuesday, 228 on Wednesday, and more than 300 on Thursday. Typically, Michigan sees around 50 cases per year.
Symptoms appear two to 14 days after exposure and may include frequent diarrhea, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, nausea, and low-grade fever. Anyone experiencing sudden, ongoing diarrhea should contact a health care provider. The illness can be treated with antibiotics. If untreated, the illness may last for a few days to a month or longer.
No source has been identified, and the investigation is ongoing. The illness does not spread person to person.
The best prevention is washing your produce. MDHHS recommends rinsing all fruits and vegetables under running water, scrubbing produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean brush, and refrigerating any cut or peeled produce within 2 hours.
More information about cyclosporiasis can be found on the CDC.gov website. The full MDHHS statement on the Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak is below.
