Should Canadians avoid American produce amid cyclosporiasis spread?

For those who are worried about potentially ingesting the parasite, PHAC says there are some steps that can reduce risk of exposure.

Amid the rapid U.S. spread of cyclosporiasis, an illness of the intestines caused by a parasite called cyclospora, questions surrounding potential prevention of the sickness continue to circulate. That comes as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it is not considering restrictions on fresh produce imports from the United States, and after the Public Health Agency of Canada says it is not investigating any outbreaks. As of July 13, 1,645 lab-confirmed cases were reported in the U.S. across 34 states, with 141 people hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with those becoming sick “after eating food in the United States.”

On July 9, 843 cases were reported across 31 states, resulting in 86 hospitalizations, marking a quick rise in cases. The CDC does indicate that “states are likely to report higher case counts of cyclosporiasis than reflected in CDC data.” The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has reported 3,762 total cases, while Ohio’s Department of Health has recorded 177 cyclosporiasis cases in the state as of July 2.

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