Michigan Lifts Lettuce Warning As Cyclosporiasis Cases Decline

The disease spread from human feces is not usually life-threatening - but can lead to severe dehydration that lands people in the hospital. In response to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) advises Michigan residents that they can resume routine guidance for consuming lettuce and salad greens as new cyclosporiasis case reports and related emergency department visits are on the decline, the department said in a release. That includes eating bagged salad and “usual” food-handling practices, although the department noted it would update residents if conditions change.

Some 12,485 cyclosporiasis cases have been reported in Michigan since June. The Great Lakes state has been the center of America’s ongoing outbreaks, and was the first to report two deaths from the dehydrating illness caused by exposure to the parasite cyclospora.