The Explosive Diarrhea Outbreak Is About to Get Much Bigger

[Nevilledog]

https://www.wired.com/story/explosive-diarrhea-outbreak-about-to-get-bigger/

No paywall link
https://archive.md/20260715113023/https://www.wired.com/story/explosive-diarrhea-outbreak-about-to-get-bigger/

THE US’S EXPLOSIVE diarrhea problem is worse than you think—and it's about to get even messier.

The country is grappling with a large and fast-spreading outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes extreme gastrointestinal distress. There are nearly 7,000 potential cases, more than 3,300 of which are in Michigan alone as of Tuesday, and state officials have identified tainted lettuce as the likely culprit.

The actual case count is almost certainly higher, though, because most people don’t seek medical care when they get diarrhea. And even when they do, labs don’t routinely test for cyclosporiasis, says Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of Infectious Diseases Society of America. She estimates cases are at least double the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s numbers.

“That’s because of underdiagnosis and also because there are cases that are likely to be mild. Many people aren't going to declare themselves and get counted,” she says. Cyclosporiasis isn’t as common as other foodborne illnesses, meaning it’s not included in standard panels that test for several types of gastrointestinal disease.

But for many folks who get sick, the effects are, let’s just say, not pleasant. “A lot of times with diarrhea, you have an episode and you feel better,” says Marrazzo. “With this, it just can kind of go on and on, and it really takes people out.”

Bad enough, yes. But about that whole getting worse thing.

*snip*