Will cyclospora spike again? Expert warns diarrhea parasite may spread through summer

(NEXSTAR) – While the largest cyclospora outbreak appears to be winding down, others with unknown sources keep popping up.

Cyclospora, a parasite that’s now infamous for causing “explosive” diarrhea, among other symptoms, is often traced back to tainted produce. U.S. health officials are actively investigating five outbreaks that don’t currently have an identified source, so it’s not clear what food may be spreading the parasite around.

The largest known outbreak, which was traced back to iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms facility in Mexico, “may be at or near peak” since the contaminated lettuce has either been eaten already, taken off store shelves, or tossed out, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

“That may be under somewhat better control, but it’s probably not the only thing responsible for cyclospora cases in the United States currently.”

Even in a normal year, cyclosporiasis (the illness caused by the parasite) typically picks up steam in the warmer months, with the highest case counts between May 1........

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