More than 145 people across 17 states have fallen ill in a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak, with 20 hospitalised and no common source yet identified. The CDC has confirmed all infections were acquired within the US, suggesting the source lies somewhere in the domestic food chain. Investigators are now racing to trace the contaminated product before more cases emerge.
The mystery has heightened public anxiety because cyclosporiasis is most commonly linked to fresh produce eaten raw. Unlike many foodborne bacteria, the microscopic parasite cannot always be removed by rinsing, making traceback investigations particularly challenging. The CDC and FDA are examining several illness clusters in an effort to find a shared food source.
