Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak tops 3,300 confirmed cases amid national surge

Michigan is now reporting more than 3,300 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, state health officials said Tuesday, marking the largest cluster in a national outbreak that has sickened thousands across the country. The figure represents a sharp increase from just a day earlier, when the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had reported 2,640 cases, according to the Michigan Advance.

Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented 1,645 cases across 34 states as of mid-July, with 141 people hospitalized, Quality Assurance Magazine reported. Michigan alone accounts for a vast majority of the confirmed illnesses, but officials warn the true toll is likely much higher.

"Thousands of cases have been confirmed across the U.S., but it's likely the true number of people who have fallen ill is even higher."

WCBD News 2Why cyclosporiasis cases are likely way underreported

That undercount stems from the nature of the illness itself: many people with mild symptoms may not seek medical care or get tested for the parasite. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, with symptoms including watery diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps, the Oakland Press reported.

State and federal investigators are focusing on salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak, according to Planet Detroit. The Michigan outbreak has continued to grow steadily in recent weeks, and health officials are urging clinicians to consider cyclosporiasis in patients with compatible symptoms, especially if they have a history of eating fresh produce.

For now, Michigan remains the epicenter of the nation's cyclosporiasis surge, and the case count shows no signs of leveling off. The CDC and state health departments continue to investigate, but the persistent underreporting means the outbreak's actual size remains unknown.