Health officials in Michigan announced on Monday the first two deaths linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak spreading across the United States. More than 11,000 cases of the foodborne illness have been confirmed nationwide, with 193 people hospitalized since early May.
The two people who died had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by cyclosporiasis and dehydration, according to a statement from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services cited by NBC.
What is cyclosporiasis
Cyclospora, a parasite found in human feces, causes cyclosporiasis and can lead to severe dehydration from intense vomiting and diarrhea. The standard treatment is the antibiotic Bactrim, though people with healthy immune systems typically recover without it.
Deaths described as rare
Health authorities said cyclosporiasis is generally not a life-threatening illness, adding that deaths linked to the infection are rare in the United States.
