Could Climate Change Be a Contributor to an Extended Cyclospora Outbreak?

An outbreak of cyclosporiasis has affected 1,645 people across 34 states, with Michigan and New York experiencing the highest case numbers, though health officials have not yet identified the contamination source. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong from UCSF suggests that climate change may be extending cyclospora outbreaks beyond traditional summer months, as rising temperatures activate the parasite that causes the illness and enable it to become infectious in soil and irrigation water. The infection spreads when fecal-contaminated produce, particularly leafy greens, herbs, and berries, is consumed raw, causing severe watery diarrhea that appears 7-14 days after exposure.