US Faces Widespread Parasite-Driven Diarrhea Outbreak Across 30 States

Thousands of Americans have been struck by severe, sudden attacks of diarrhoea caused by an infection called ciclosporiasis, a parasite typically transmitted through raw fruit and vegetables. Cases have risen in more than 30 states, with Michigan reporting about 1,600 cases in a single week—roughly three times the prior count—and around forty patients hospitalized for dehydration.

The parasite’s incubation period can be up to two weeks, making it difficult to trace the original source. Federal health agencies, including the FDA, have opened investigations, but cuts to agency funding have hampered testing and containment efforts. Treatment generally involves a ten‑day course of antibiotics to clear the infection.