Health department provides update on Cyclosporiasis outbreak

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has provided an update related to the statewide outbreak of Cyclosporiasis.

Heidi Hazel, health and disease-prevention officer, said the tri-county department is seeing an increase in cases specifically in St. Joseph and Hillsdale counties. However, the agency does not have confirmation that the cases are related to the current outbreak or merely a coincidence.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by infection from a parasite spread by food or water contaminated with feces. Outbreaks have occurred in the past as a result of eating contaminated fresh produce, especially during the summer months. Cyclosporiasis is not known to spread from person to person.