By MediaNews Group
Michigan health officials reported two deaths and 11,234 cases of cyclosporaisis on Monday, Aug. 3, more than doubling the number of documented cases reported just two weeks ago.
On Monday, state health authorities said the people who died had “significant underlying health conditions” that may have been affected by the intestinal illness and dehydration, the state health department said, adding that no more information would be provided on the cases.
Deaths from the illness caused by the microscopic parasite are uncommon in the United States, and it is generally not life-threatening, according to Michigan’s health department.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issues daily updates of documented cases and weekly updates on Thursdays for the number of hospitalizations and number of cases recorded in each of Michigan’s 83 counties.
The Thursday, July 30, report showed 193 individuals have been hospitalized due to cyclosporiasis, the intestinal disease spread by consuming food or liquids infected by the single-cell cyclospora parasite. It has been detected in 71 counties, though 16 reported cases do not have a known county of residence, according to officials. Symptoms can emerge between two days and two weeks, and include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue.
In Metro Detroit, health officials reported 2,950 cases: Wayne County, excluding Detroit, with 1,379; Oakland County with 1,043, and Macomb County with 282. Detroit’s health department reported 246 cases.
Other Michigan counties with a significant number of cases include Washtenaw, 875; Ingham, 810; Genesee, 501; Shiawassee, 445; Eaton, 381; Monroe, 368; Lenawee 368, and Livingston, 356.
According to state health officials, the hardest hit age group is Michiganders ages 30-39, who have reported 2,216 cases, followed by ages 20-29 with 1,909 and ages 40-49 with 1,1,892. There were 64 cases reported for children from infants to age 9.
There were 726 cases recorded on Monday, July 13, making it the largest single day for reported cases.
The state’s investigation has pointed to lettuce and salad greens as a potential source of this outbreak, though it could not completely rule out other types of produce, or identify a specific grower or supplier as a source of the outbreak. On July 17, Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products sourced in central Mexico.
Two federal lawsuits were filed separately last week in Michigan’s eastern district with each party claiming they became ill with cyclosporiasis after eating food served at Taco Bell restaurants in Macomb and Shiawassee counties.