Michigan Cyclospora Outbreak May Have Reached Its Peak

Michigan's Cyclospora outbreak may finally be easing, which is great news for anyone whose bathroom has recently doubled as an office and panic room. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reports the cumulative total has climbed past 10,000 cases, but that doesn't mean 10,000 Michiganders got sick yesterday.

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Experts are watching daily additions, which have dropped from the July 13 high of 706 newly reported cases. That slowdown suggests the outbreak may have crested after recalled iceberg lettuce was removed from stores and restaurants.

Why Michigan's Total Will Keep Rising

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Here comes the intestinal fine print: reported cases will keep increasing even if fewer people are becoming sick. Cyclospora symptoms can take two days to two weeks to appear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In other words, today's numbers may reflect illnesses that began more than a month ago.

The CDC had received 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases through July 27, plus more than 11,500 additional cases awaiting confirmation or investigation. Most of the pending reports came from Michigan and Ohio.

What Michiganders Should Expect Next

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Expect totals to rise, daily increases to bounce around, and investigators to keep chasing other possible food sources. The outbreak remains open, and Cyclospora season typically runs through August 31.

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In the meantime, avoid recalled lettuce, wash produce under running water, clean surfaces it touched, and contact a health care provider if you start experiencing persistent watery diarrhea, fatigue, or appetite loss. For now, enjoy your best excuse ever for filling up on breadsticks and skipping the salad.