With an outbreak of a diarrhea-inducing parasite in the United States and a higher number of cases in Quebec than usual, some locals and tourists in Montreal are changing their habits when it comes to buying food.<\/p>\n
Karey Trubiano and Krista Goyens said not only have they both heard of cyclospora and the rash of cases reported in the U.S., they are trying to stick to purchasing local fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thankful that we\u2019ve been growing a couple of things at home, like raspberries,\u201d Goyens said of her Montreal home in an interview Wednesday afternoon at the Jean-Talon Market.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is kind of stressed, so I\u2019m happy that we have options in case things do end up coming here.\u201d<\/p>\n
What she finds concerning is the severity of the intestinal illness, which can last weeks and requires antibiotics, saying \u201cit\u2019s not just a cold. You\u2019re not just going to get over it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cyclospora\u2019s unwelcome presence in the U.S. has made Trubiano \u201cpay more attention to labels on where I\u2019m getting my fruits and vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre they from Quebec? Is it from Canada or is it coming from the States? It\u2019s made me kind of pay more attention to that and maybe made me more wary of buying produce from the States,\u201d Trubiano said.<\/p>\n
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite cyclospora and people can become infected by consuming food or water that contains it. Symptoms include watery or explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, cramping, fatigue and weight loss. The illness is \u201cnot usually life-threatening\u201d but some people \u201ccan become very ill and require hospitalization,\u201d according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>.<\/p>\n Quebec health authorities have reported 85 cases of cyclosporiasis<\/a> since the beginning of the year, higher than the tally of 30 for the same period last year. The health ministry recorded an average of 32 cases for the same time frame between 2022 and 2025.<\/p>\n While the ministry is monitoring the situation, it says the majority of cases in Quebec \u201cappear to be linked to travel exposure, primarily to Mexico.\u201d Fewer than five cases have reported U.S. travel.<\/p>\n None of the cases in the province appear to be linked to the ongoing outbreak in Michigan, where thousands have been sickened. As of Wednesday<\/a>, the state\u2019s health authority has recorded 3,762 cases and 44 hospitalizations.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the investigation is ongoing, available information indicates that lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source of this outbreak. However, other food items cannot be completely ruled out. No specific type of produce, grower, or supplier has been identified as the source,\u201d the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said on its website.<\/p>\n