News Health & Medicine

Inside the fight against the parasite Cyclospora

Scientists trying to contain the growing outbreak face unique challenges

A microscope image of cyclospora.

The foodborne parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis (stained red in this micrograph of a human stool sample) can cause extreme gastrointestinal upset. Cases have skyrocketed in the United States this summer and researchers are struggling to pin down the cause.

Melanie Moser/DPDx/CDC

By Fechi Inyama

Intense abdominal pain. Extreme fatigue. Explosive diarrhea.

These are just some of the symptoms of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic infection that has sickened thousands and hospitalized more than 100 people in the United States since May 1.