You ever want to eat healthy, and still shit yourself like you had the lowest fiber and most greased up food ever? Try Cyclospora.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is the new hit parasite on the block, causing its very own outbreak. The ongoing outbreak in the states does not have a known source for sure (as of 07/16/26.). Though it’s suspected to stem from raspberries, lettuce, salad mixes, basil, parsley, cilantro, and peas. Though personally I personally suspect that it’s not a problem with the food itself, but within the water source used for the watering of these foods.
I’m covering what’s going on in only the states, mostly Michigan and its neighbors. This outbreak has over 1,600 confirmed cases, with 5,100 additional possible but not confirmed cases. Which is more than quadruple the now second largest outbreak to ever occur in the states. Which was approx. 1600 cases. So this is a BIG deal.
Well, Fae can’t we just use chemicals to cleanse it from our water? NO, YOU FOOL. See this parasite is highly resistant to chlorine and other water purifying chemicals. Including bleach and soap. Although there is still hope in filtration. See, the oocysts are roughly 8-10 micrometers wide, and some of its smaller cousins have proven to be defeated by filtering the water it’s in.
For a while I've been trying to figure out HOW this happened. And to clarify, I am not a medical professional, and can't confirm with certainty that this is true. But with what I've learned I have only come to one conclusion, the budget cuts. Specifically that of the "foodnet" program and to the FDA. These budget cuts I suspect allowed the Cyclospora to enter the food market and spread without being detected early, causing an outbreak. And slowed down the FDA and CDC from detecting the source, allowing it to continue for an extended period of time.
This nasty little bugger likes to attach itself to your small intestine lining. Where it will spend the reproduction portion of its life cycle. The way it reproduces damages the epithelium covering your small intestine, eventually causing the loss of the brush border (the part of your intestine with hella surface area that absorbs all the good stuff). Without this brush border, the body has trouble absorbing water, electrolytes, and other nutrients.
A fun fact about Cyclospora, is that it only infects humans. And can only reproduce inside human intestines. It REALLY likes us, and unfortunately for it. It’s a one sided relationship.
Your body does not like to share, so it tries really hard to remove the cyclospora from your intestine. The way it tries is by sending a bunch of lymphocytes and plasma cells. This response in most cases causes the person to have explosive and violent diarrhea. Among other symptoms like loss of appetite, weight loss (from the water weight of the aforementioned diarrhea), cramps in the abdomen, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. There’s rarer symptoms that only drop from some cyclospore instances, such as vomiting, whole body aches, headaches, and a low grade fever (99.5f- 100.3f). Of course there’s also the most common collab of all time, flu like symptoms.
After two full weeks of shitting yourself, you’ll have gotten rid of most of the parasite. FOOL, that’s exactly what it wants. Because among that torrent of diarrhea, exists eggs of evil. Okay, eggs is the wrong word. They are technically “oocysts”. Which then undergoes ‘sporulation’ in the wild. This process requires nutrients, and a warm moist place. How convenient then, that is already in a slurry of nutrient rich poop. After it sporulates, it is infectious and ready to start the cycle over again. It’ll get onto food, and into water. Which is consumed by a person, where it gets to reproduce.
Due the way it spreads and reproduces, person to person infection is unlikely. But like, make sure you REALLY wash your hands anyway.
The treatment plan for this nasty parasite is not all that complicated. You’ll be prescribed an anti-biotic (which is odd because this is a parasite.). Then it’s just a matter of ridding out the storm. During this time you’ll want to drink extra water, likely with some electrolyte supplements mixed in.
Though as is the same with all diseases, prevention is better than treatment. There’s no available vaccine for this parasite, though it seems there’s been an effort to develop some. But in the meantime, the best thing you can do is wash all vegetables very thoroughly, with a scrub brush if possible. If it has a peel or rind, remove it completely before consumption. If it’s a very textured veggie like lettuce heads, remove the outer layers and toss' em.
If you’re cooking veggies (which you should be doing anyway), you’re going to want to make sure they get above 158 degrees fahrenheit. As the oocysts can’t survive at this temperature. If you don’t have a veggie or meat thermometer, you should buy one and use it. If that’s for some reason not an option, at least try and make sure that water is boiling.
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