ORLANDO, Fla. – A fast-moving parasitic infection is spreading across 18 states — including Florida — and federal and local health officials are now investigating what is driving the outbreak. The illness, Cyclosporiasis, is causing severe gastrointestinal distress, and the CDC says the number of affected states has grown.
Michigan is reporting the heaviest concentration of cases, logging 681 since June 22 — roughly six times the state’s typical annual caseload in about a week, according to CBS News medical contributor and KFF Health News chief medical officer Dr. Céline Gounder.
“We’re seeing a big cluster of this pop up in Michigan,” Gounder said. “It’s six times the state’s usual annual cases in about a week. So that’s a huge spike in cases.”
Where the outbreak stands
According to the CDC, the outbreak has now reached 18 states. The hardest-hit states are Michigan, New York, Illinois, and Texas. Florida is among the other states with confirmed cases, along with Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
What is Cyclosporiasis — and should Floridians be concerned?
The illness is caused by the Cyclospora parasite, which health experts say spreads through fresh produce or water contaminated with feces. It does not spread from person to person.
Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and cramps — and in some cases, the effects can be prolonged and intense.
“We see some cases causing watery, often explosive, prolonged diarrhea, so even out to a week,” Gounder said.
For most healthy people, the infection is unpleasant but not life-threatening. No deaths have been reported during the current outbreak, according to Gounder.
“For most healthy people, Cyclosporiasis is miserable, but it’s not dangerous,” she said.
Who is most at risk?
Gounder says certain groups should be monitored more closely:
- Infants and children under five
- The elderly
- People who are immunocompromised
About 20 people have been hospitalized recently due to Cyclosporiasis complications, typically related to dehydration, according to Gounder.
Treatment: What the CDC recommends
The CDC says most healthy people will eventually recover from Cyclosporiasis without treatment, though the illness can be prolonged. If left untreated, symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to more than a month — and may appear to improve before coming back.
The antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole — commonly sold under brand names Bactrim, Septra, or Cotrim — is the CDC’s recommended treatment for cyclosporiasis. There is currently no vaccine available for the illness.
Special considerations:
- Pregnant women: The CDC advises that the antibiotic should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus, and it should be avoided near the end of pregnancy.
- Children under 2 months: Use of the antibiotic is generally not recommended for infants in this age group.
- HIV-positive patients: Longer courses of treatment may be needed.
Because Cyclosporiasis cannot be reliably diagnosed without laboratory testing, anyone experiencing prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms should see a doctor.
How to reduce your risk
Health officials recommend thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before eating them. Washing lowers the risk of infection but does not eliminate it entirely.