Trump admin "aware" of deaths in explosive diarrhea outbreak, delays reporting

Federal officials will update the outbreak sometime "this week," a spokesperson said.

Authorities in Michigan disclosed on Monday that two individuals had succumbed to the ongoing outbreak of explosive diarrhea caused by the Cyclospora parasite. While such fatalities are exceedingly uncommon, the massive scale of the outbreak left some experts taken aback by the deaths. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) revealed that both victims had pre-existing health conditions that may have been exacerbated by the cyclosporiasis and dehydration.

The MDHHS noted that both individuals had contracted the diarrheal infection prior to the recall of shredded iceberg lettuce by Taylor Farms. The lettuce, sourced from Mexico, has been linked to thousands of cases across at least nine states. Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that spreads through human feces and is frequently transmitted via contaminated fresh produce like lettuces and other fruits and vegetables with uneven surfaces that the parasite can cling onto. Previous outbreaks have been attributed to fresh herbs, raspberries, green onions, and snow peas.

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