(NewsNation) — A weekslong cyclospora outbreak tied to salad greens has killed two people in Michigan, both of whom had significant underlying health conditions, health officials say.
Michigan has become a hotspot for the parasite, with more than 11,000 confirmed cases in the state. The CDC is tracking more than 18,000 cases nationwide.
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Investigators have linked some cases to lettuce grown in Mexico and distributed by Taylor Farms, though the full source of the outbreak has not been confirmed.
Neal Shah, CEO of CareYaya, told Katie Pavlich the parasite itself rarely kills. The danger comes from dehydration.
"Any underlying health conditions people have like kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes or even weakened immune system from undergoing cancer treatment" put patients at greater risk, Shah says. People on blood pressure medication and frail older adults, including those with dementia who may not notice they're dehydrated, also face higher danger, he says.
Shah urged anyone who suspects infection to see a doctor and ask specifically for a cyclospora test, since a standard test won't detect it. Doctors can prescribe a decades-old antibiotic called Bactrim.
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He also recommended rehydrating with electrolytes, rather than plain water, since water can dilute the body's salts.
Because health officials have not pinpointed every source of contamination, Shah advised cooking all produce for now, rather than eating it raw.
"The parasite dies under heat," he says, adding that washing produce with vinegar or chlorine does not kill it.
Cases tend to peak between May and August, and Shah said the outbreak should ease by late summer.
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