Cyclosporiasis outbreak: what is gastrointestinal illness that has affected over 1,500 in the U.S.
U.S. CDC advisory on a cyclosporiasis outbreak highlights foodborne disease surveillance, diagnosis, and prevention
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory on a widespread cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States.
- Cyclosporiasis spreads through contaminated food or water and does not spread directly from person to person.
- Cyclosporiasis may require multiple stool samples over several days because a single stool sample may miss the parasite.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health advisory on a large cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States. The outbreak matters because cyclosporiasis is a foodborne parasitic illness that can be underdiagnosed, can spread through contaminated produce or water, and may require multiple stool tests for confirmation.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Infection usually occurs through the faeco-oral route after a person consumes food or water contaminated with parasite material. The illness is not transmitted directly person-to-person.
Symptoms often begin about one week after exposure. The main feature is explosive watery diarrhoea. Other symptoms can include bloating, reduced appetite, stomach cramps, fatigue, weight loss, vomiting, and low-grade fever.
UPSC may use cyclosporiasis to test disease transmission through contaminated food and water, the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in surveillance, and the need for safe produce handling and accurate diagnosis. A mains answer can connect outbreak control with food-safety systems, laboratory capacity, and risk communication.
Related dispatches
