Michigan health official breaks down scope of fast-moving cyclosporiasis outbreak

A fast-moving parasite outbreak is spreading across Southeast Michigan, and now we are getting answers from the state’s top doctor. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said cases have exploded in just five days. On June 30, there were 170 unconfirmed cases. As of Saturday, July 4, the cases jumped to 572. That’s more than three times the cases in less than a week. For some context, Michigan usually sees about 50 cases a year. The hardest-hit counties are Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw and Wayne. What is cyclosporiasis? It’s caused by a parasite and spreads through contaminated fresh produce. Currently, no specific food source has been identified. Health officials are urging everyone in Southeast Michigan to take precautions now.  But whole heads of lettuce, not bagged salad mixes. Wash all fresh produce under running water. Refrigerate cut or cooked vegetables within two hours. And when in doubt, cook it. Heating food to 150 degrees kills the parasite. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s Chief Medical Executive, joined Local 4 Live to help us understand the scope of this outbreak.