Two Michigan residents have died in the state’s ongoing Cyclospora outbreak, health officials reported, as investigators continue to trace sources of exposure. The outbreak has affected more than 11,000 people in Michigan, with 193 hospitalizations recorded since early May, and state investigators have linked a subset of cases to shipments of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a single-celled parasite that infects the intestinal tract when people consume contaminated food or water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed over 6,700 domestically acquired cases since May across multiple outbreaks in the United States, and the Food and Drug Administration is coordinating traceback of implicated produce. Reported symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, low-grade fever, vomiting and diarrhea; the infection is treated with specific antibiotics that inhibit the parasite’s ability to multiply.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said medical records indicate both deceased individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been exacerbated by cyclosporiasis and dehydration, and that no additional details will be released. These are the first deaths reported in Michigan’s outbreak and the first deaths associated with the currently active Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States. State and federal officials emphasize that death from cyclosporiasis is uncommon in the U.S.; historical surveillance from 2011–2015 recorded thousands of cases without associated fatalities.
Cases of cyclosporiasis range from mild, self-limited illness to severe disease, with higher risk among young children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems. Severe or prolonged diarrhea increases the risk of dehydration and related complications such as electrolyte imbalance and hypovolemia, which can lead to kidney injury or shock if not treated. Public health authorities continue to investigate distribution chains and advise clinicians to test symptomatic patients and treat confirmed infections promptly; the report is informational and not a substitute for medical advice.
