Source of contamination still undetermined, health officials say
More than 2,800 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported across the United States, with the largest concentration in Michigan, state health officials said Monday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 843 confirmed cases and 1,500 suspected cases across 31 states as of Friday, with 86 hospitalizations and no deaths.
The CDC said in a statement that it expects states to report higher case counts than reflected in its current data. “CDC is aware that states are likely to report higher case counts of cyclosporiasis than reflected in CDC data and is working closely with states to update numbers as additional cases are confirmed,” the agency said.
Michigan has reported approximately 2,640 suspected cases, according to state health officials. Cases have been identified in 43 of the state’s 83 counties, including 215 in Monroe County and 160 in Wayne County. Neighboring Ohio has reported 177 cases. Neither state’s health department has identified a source for the outbreak.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the State of Michigan, said the state’s health department believes the outbreak is most likely related to produce.
The outbreak comes about one year after the Trump administration cut funding to state and local health department programs focused on foodborne illnesses such as cyclosporiasis, according to UPI.