Michigan has reported the first two deaths in an outbreak of cyclosporiasis — a parasite infection spread through contaminated food and water.

The news

Michigan reported the first two deaths of the current cyclosporiasis outbreak, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, according to Associated Press reporting collected in Wikipedia’s current events log.

What cyclosporiasis is, plainly

It is an infection of the intestines caused by a microscopic parasite. People usually catch it by eating fresh produce or drinking water contaminated with the parasite — it is not normally passed directly from person to person. Outbreaks in wealthy countries are often traced to imported fresh produce such as herbs, salad leaves or berries.

Typical symptoms include prolonged watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, tiredness and loss of appetite, sometimes lasting weeks and returning in waves. Most healthy adults recover; the illness is more dangerous for very young children, older people and anyone whose immune system is weakened. It is treatable with prescribed medication, which is why getting a diagnosis matters rather than waiting it out.

Why washing salad is not a complete answer

Rinsing produce helps with many contaminants, but this parasite can cling stubbornly to surfaces, so washing reduces risk rather than removing it. Public health authorities focus instead on finding the contaminated source and pulling it from the supply chain — which is exactly why outbreak investigations take time and why reporting cases matters.

If you have severe or prolonged stomach symptoms, contact your doctor or local health service. This article explains the news; it is not medical advice for any individual case.

Source: AP, as collected by Wikipedia’s current events portal.