美国正面临有史以来最严重的环孢子虫疫情。[2]美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）确认，与冰山生菜污染相关的病例已扩展至15个州。[2]调查指向Taylor Farms公司种植的中墨西哥生菜为污染源，该公司已启动产品召回。[2]今年美国环孢子虫病例已超过25,000例，[2]创下历史新高，相比之下2019年美国最严重的一年仅约4,700例。[2]其中密歇根州单独报告超过12,000例病例，包括两例死亡。[2]
环孢子虫感染会导致频繁和有时极为剧烈的腹泻。[2]除了冰山生菜相关疫情外，FDA正追踪5起独立的环孢子虫疫情。[2]尽管疫情自6月开始爆发，但应对进展缓慢。[1]CDC和FDA的公开疫情页面至报道时仍未更新相关信息，导致公众对食用新鲜水果蔬菜风险认识不足。[1]卫生与公众服务部发言人表示疫情信息将在"本周"更新，[1]CDC计划在本周设立"正式应对团队"以应对这一危机。[1]
A major Cyclospora parasite outbreak has spread across the United States, with case numbers climbing to over 25,000 and now confirmed in 15 states [2]. The outbreak, which began in June, has resulted in at least 2 deaths and hospitalized more than 500 people [1]. Investigators have traced the contamination to iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms in central Mexico, prompting the company to recall affected products [2]. Michigan alone has reported over 12,000 cases, including the two fatalities [2].
The response from federal health authorities has been sluggish despite the scale of the crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not yet updated their public outbreak information pages with current details [1], leaving the public largely unaware of risks associated with consuming fresh produce. The CDC announced plans to establish a formal response team this week [1], while a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson indicated that outbreak information would be updated "this week" [1]. The FDA is simultaneously tracking five separate Cyclospora outbreaks [2].
According to the CDC, Cyclospora can cause "frequent and sometimes very intense diarrhea" [2]. This represents the most severe year on record for the illness in the United States, surpassing 2019, which had approximately 4,700 cases [2].