{"id":5338,"date":"2026-07-09T17:06:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=5338"},"modified":"2026-07-09T17:06:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:06:29","slug":"an-outbreak-of-diarrhea-caused-by-a-parasite-has-hit-at-least-1400-people-heres-how-to-stay-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=5338","title":{"rendered":"An outbreak of diarrhea caused by a parasite has hit at least 1,400 people. Here\u2019s how to stay safe"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Summer is the best time to be enjoying fresh berries and cool caprese salads with a sprinkling of fresh basil, preferably poolside.\n <\/p>

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\n But this summer, with cases of diarrhea caused by a microscopic parasite called cyclospora climbing across several states, you may want to take extra care with how you prepare your produce and where you swim.\n <\/p>\n

\n The epicenter of an outbreak is Michigan, where more than 1,200 people have fallen ill.Ohio has also seen nearly 200 cases.Other states, including New York, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, and Texas have also reported a jump in cases, although it\u2019s not clear whether they\u2019re all part of the same outbreak. More than 40 people have been hospitalized.\n <\/p>\n

\n While it\u2019s not likely to kill you, cyclosporiasis, by all accounts, is not something you want to deal with. The watery diarrhea, cramping and bloating it causes can quickly leave you dehydrated and even land you in the hospital.\n <\/p>\n

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\nMichigan hits nearly 1,000 cases of diarrhea-causing parasite, as more people are infected across several states<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

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\n \u201cIf you get norovirus or something, you might have a rough 24 or 48 hours, but people with this parasite can be sick for weeks or sometimes even months with a sort of relapsing pattern, and so that can really wear down your body,\u201d said Dr. Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She recently wrote about the outbreak in her \u201cForce of Infection\u201d newsletter.\n <\/p>\n

\n Importantly,investigators say they haven\u2019t yet been able to determine the source or sources causing this year\u2019s cyclosporiasis cases.\n <\/p>\n

\n But based on past experience with this bug, there are some ways you can try to keep yourself safe.\n <\/p>\n

\n Know how it infects people\n<\/h2>\n

\n The good news is that cyclosporiasis doesn\u2019t pass directly from person to person. You get it by eating or drinking something that\u2019s been contaminated several weeks prior, usually fresh produce or water from a swimming pool.\n <\/p>\n

\n This parasite is resistant to bleach, so it can show up in recreational water sources like chlorinated swimming pools and splash pads, but also in lakes and rivers. If you have an outbreak in your area, especially, it might be best to avoid public swimming areas.\n <\/p>\n

\n Cook your fruits and veggies\n<\/h2>\n

\n When it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables, the safest thing to do to prevent getting sick is to cook them, Rivers said.\n <\/p>\n

\n Cooking food to an internal temperature of 158 degrees Fahrenheit or higher kills cyclospora, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.\n <\/p>\n

\n How long that takes will depend on your cooking method. Using a food thermometer can help you know that you\u2019ve reached a safe temperature.\n <\/p>

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\n Always wash your produce\n<\/h2>\n

\n If it\u2019s something you can\u2019t really cook, like salad greens, you\u2019ll want to wash it thoroughly \u2014 for at least a minute \u2014 by immersing it in water and swishing gently by hand. The bowl of a salad spinner is effective for this, for example.\n <\/p>\n

\n Researchers have also tested a rinse of one part vinegar to three parts water, and this also works to remove most cyclospora spores from produce.\n <\/p>\n

\n In , even careful washing couldn\u2019t remove all cyclospora, however, which proved to be stickier than other parasites.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cMy read of this study is that rinsing helps, but it\u2019s not reliable,\u201d said Rivers.\n <\/p>\n

\n Other practices that may help reduce the risk include breaking off and discarding the outer leaves of a head of lettuce, and scrubbing firm fruits and vegetables with a soft brush while rinsing.\n <\/p>\n

\n Consider steering clear of certain high-risk foods\n<\/h2>\n

\n You don\u2019t have to avoid all raw fruits and vegetables because of an outbreak with an undetermined cause.But if you are particularly vulnerable, perhaps because of age or medications that lower your immune function, you could consider steering clear of foods that have been involved in outbreaks in the past.\n <\/p>\n

\n They include foods that are harder to wash, or that people might be less diligent about washing, including:\n <\/p>\n

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