California Faces Outbreak of Severe Parasitic Diarrhea: What You Need to Know

A troubling parasitic outbreak known for causing intense “explosive diarrhea” has made its presence felt in California, joining a rapidly spreading health concern in the United States. Authorities caution that the official case numbers in the state likely only represent a small portion of the actual infections.

Recent state reports indicate a link between 1 and 10 cases in California and a larger outbreak affecting the state, as health officials continue their efforts to monitor its progress.

The true extent of the outbreak is elusive, as many individuals recover without seeking medical attention or undergoing testing. The detection of this parasite requires specialized lab tests, and confirmed infections can take up to six weeks to be officially reported, according to experts.

In California, most cases have been attributed to international travel rather than the expanding outbreak across several states.

Nationally, the outbreak has affected at least 2,944 individuals across 32 states, with Michigan experiencing the highest impact.

The state has reported 1,562 infections, roughly 31 times the approximately 50 cases it typically records in a year, and at least 44 people have been hospitalized.

Investigators are examining whether contaminated food is driving the spike, but they have not identified a specific produce item, supplier or grower responsible for the outbreak.

Cyclospora, the parasite behind the illness known as cyclosporiasis, is typically spread through food or water contaminated with feces.

Previous outbreaks have been traced to imported fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, snow peas, mesclun lettuce and cilantro.

According to the CDC, the illness can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.”

Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Symptoms usually begin about one week after infection, although they can appear anywhere from two days to two weeks later, making it more difficult for investigators to determine where someone was exposed.

The CDC recommends treating cyclosporiasis with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, commonly sold as Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim, over a 10-day course.

As investigators continue searching for the source of the outbreak, some Taco Bell restaurants have temporarily removed fresh ingredients from their menus as a precaution.

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Locations, including some in Metro Detroit, posted notices telling customers they were temporarily unable to serve lettuce, cilantro, onions, pico de gallo and guacamole because of a nationwide recall while health officials respond to the increase in cyclosporiasis cases.

Restaurants in outbreak hot spots, including Michigan and Ohio, have also pulled raw lettuce, onions, cilantro-onion mix, pico de gallo and guacamole from their menus.

However, neither the CDC nor the Food and Drug Administration has linked Taco Bell to any reported illnesses.