Cyclospora parasite outbreak: Why lettuce and salad greens are blamed for it

For the past two months, various states in the United States of America have been experiencing a foodborne parasite outbreak affecting numerous people. According to reports, thousands of people across 30 states have been infected so far. Experts say it is caused by a single-celled, microscopic parasite called 'cyclospora' that infects the human small intestine.

It results in the illness called cyclosporiasis, which is contracted by consuming contaminated water and food. It is a parasite that thrives in warm weather, and officially, it's said to have started in Michigan at the beginning of May. New York, Ohio and Illinois are the other current hotspots of the outbreak. 

The source of the parasite
Though authorities haven't pinpointed a country, farm, or supplier as the source of the parasite's spread, the Michigan Department of Health reportedly suspects pre-packaged salad greens and lettuce as the source of the contamination. This is apparently because many patients have been logging them as a common food they ate before getting sick. Moreover, pre-packaged green foods can be vulnerable to cyclospora contamination. The parasite spreads mainly through water or food contaminated with faeces. It doesn't spread from person to person. 

Symptoms of the outbreak
According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms of cyclospora infection can start after a week of ingesting the parasite. Here are the main symptoms:
a) Watery diarrhoea
b) Bloating
c) Farting, burping
d) Loss of appetite
e) Vomiting
f) Nausea
g) Stomach cramps
h) Fever

Who is at risk?
a) Those living in areas prone to the infection
b) Those who regularly consume fresh, imported foods like veggies and fruits
c) Those whose diet regularly includes basil, bagged salad mixes and vegetables, cilantro, parsley, mesclun lettuce, sweet peas, snow peas and raspberries. 
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