Cyclosporiasis

Cyclosporiasis is a type of food poisoning. The primary symptom is watery diarrhea. Most cases have mild or no symptoms, but severe disease or death (typically due to dehydration) may occur, especially in infants and immunocompromised people. It occurs from feces-contaminated food and water that contains eggs of Cyclospora cayetanensis, a protozoan. Because the eggs must sporulate in the environment for 1–2 weeks before they become infectious, direct spread between people is unlikely. Cyclosporiasis occur worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Since the 2010s they have also occurred in the summer in the United States. Outbreaks in the United States have been linked to contaminated fruits and vegetables, and infection elsewhere is sometimes associated more broadly with poor sanitation standards.