First U.S. Deaths Confirmed In Connection With Parasitic Illness Carried By Lettuce, Tomatoes

Health officials in Michigan have confirmed two deaths linked to cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which can be spread through tomatoes.

These fatalities, which were first reported in August and confirmed earlier this month, marked the first reported fatalities in the United States associated with the illness. Both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by the infection and resulting dehydration, officials said.

State authorities provided no further details on the cases, including identities or exact circumstances.

The deaths occurred amid a large nationwide increase in cases that began in May of this year. Michigan recorded thousands of infections far above its typical annual total of around 50. Investigators tied a major cluster of illnesses across multiple states to iceberg lettuce sourced from a processor in central Mexico and distributed to restaurants.

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🇺🇸 Michigan has reported the first U.S. deaths linked to cyclosporiasis, a parasite-driven intestinal illness, as the number of reported cases rises to around 22,000.

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Illness onsets for the two fatal cases predated a mid-July product recall. Broader surveillance showed laboratory-confirmed cases in dozens of states, with additional suspected reports under review. Hospitalizations numbered in the hundreds nationally.

By September, officials declared the specific lettuce-linked outbreak over after case numbers declined sharply.

Cyclosporiasis is an infection of the intestines. The parasite is a tiny organism that people ingest through food or water contaminated with human fecal matter. Once swallowed, it settles in the small intestine and causes symptoms that typically start about a week later.

Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, tiredness, loss of appetite, and sometimes low-grade fever or muscle aches. Healthy people often recover on their own, though the illness can persist.

Those with weakened immune systems, older adults, young children, or existing health issues face higher risk of dehydration and complications.

Treatment usually involves a specific antibiotic combination when needed. The parasite does not spread directly from person to person in most cases because it requires time in the environment to become infectious.

Cyclospora occurs naturally in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including parts of Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia, and the Middle East. In those areas it can contaminate local water and crops. In the United States, most infections historically followed travel abroad or consumption of imported fresh produce such as raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas, salad greens, and occasionally tomatoes or mixed items containing them. Outbreaks have been documented since the mid-1990s and tend to peak in late spring and summer.

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