A central Illinois nutrition educator is offering some tips and knowledge about a sweeping domestic outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite - Cyclospora - in fresh produce.

On the WHOW Morning Show, Caitlin Mellendorf, a University of Illinois Extension Nutrition Educator in DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties, told the Hart Media Group the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak has been heavily concentrated in Michigan and other northeastern states, and Illinois has seen a very low number of reported cases so far.

Mellendorf explains foodborne outbreaks are generally triggered when at least two connected cases are linked back to a shared food source. While a definitive company or product source has not yet been named nationally, fresh produce—such as pre-washed, bagged lettuce—is often a common culprit for carrying the parasite.

To minimize the risk of foodborne illness, Mellendorf recommends opting for whole heads of lettuce instead of bagged salad mixes, discarding the outer layers of leaves, and thoroughly washing produce under clean, running water.

Unlike bacterial infections, parasitic illnesses like cyclosporiasis actively target the gut and cause severe, watery, and sometimes explosive diarrhea that can last for weeks if untreated. Mellendorf strongly advises anyone experiencing repeated gastrointestinal symptoms to seek medical care immediately to avoid extreme dehydration.

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a microscopic, single-cell parasite. It is a distinctly seasonal pathogen. In the United States, case counts predictably surge during the warm spring and summer months, with "Cyclospora season" officially tracking from May through August.