More than 15,000 cases of cyclosporiasis, a disease caused by a parasite present in contaminated produce, have been recorded in the United States since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Aug. 18.
The 15,716 cases represent an increase of about 1,800 from the week prior.
About half of the cases have been in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Eight hundred and twenty-eight people have been hospitalized with cyclosporiasis, and two people in Michigan died after contracting the disease.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have reported cases to the CDC. That number is unchanged from earlier in the month.
“The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis is likely higher than the number reported,” the CDC said. “This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora.”
Another 11,841 cases are pending laboratory confirmation or require further investigation to determine whether they were acquired domestically rather than outside the country, according to the agency.
The confirmed cases happened in people aged 1 to 99. The date of illness onset ranged from May 1 to Aug. 13.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite called Cyclospora, which is present in food or water contaminated with feces. The primary symptom is watery, loose diarrhea. Symptoms usually begin about one week after becoming infected, and can last from a few days to over a month.
Doctors recommend staying hydrated, and people can go to health care providers for additional treatment.
Cyclosporiasis cases occur each year, usually in the late spring and summer. Cases soared this year starting in the summer, and investigators found that many of the ill individuals in the middle of the country, including Michigan, had consumed lettuce.
The Food and Drug Administration said the lettuce came from Taylor Farms, which recalled lettuce from Mexico in July.
Because so much time has passed since the recall, the lettuce should no longer be available in stores or restaurants, according to the CDC.
Michigan has reported the most cases of any state. Officials said that as of Aug. 13, 13,909 illnesses had been reported, including 314 hospitalizations.
Past cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been caused by contaminated produce such as raspberries and basil.
Authorities have not yet identified the sources for six other clusters of cases.
