Two people have died in Michigan due to the cyclospora outbreak, marking the first confirmed deaths in the US related to the microscopic parasite, according to state health officials.
Cyclospora Outbreak
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that both individuals had underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by the intestinal illness and dehydration caused by the parasite.
The parasite infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, it causes intestinal illness marked by frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.
Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations across five US states as a source of the widespread outbreak. Since May 1, the CDC has received reports of more than 4,100 confirmed cases and is investigating more than 7,400 other likely cases across 41 states.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
