Has the cyclospora outbreak impacted berries? What parents of berry-aged children need to know.

A cyclosporiasis outbreak is spreading across the United States, with the CDC confirming over six thousand seven hundred cases in at least forty-five states since May, according to the 19th. While the parasite has previously contaminated berries and leafy greens, the current outbreak is linked to iceberg lettuce in nine states, and experts have not confirmed other produce sources. Dr. Craig Hedberg of the University of Minnesota noted there's no current reason to assume berries on store shelves are unsafe. The challenge: cyclospora takes up to two weeks to cause symptoms, making it hard for health officials to trace the outbreak's source. Reassuringly, most confirmed cases have involved adults, not young children. Public health guidance is straightforward: wash produce thoroughly, keep your kitchen and utensils clean, practice hand hygiene, and cook when possible — since cooking kills cyclospora, even though washing does not.

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