Two deaths and thousands sick due to salad in the US - Kazakhstan assesses the risk of an outbreak

Tengrinews.kz — The United States has reported two deaths linked to the country's largest-ever outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a type of intestinal infection. According to authorities, more than 12,000 people have fallen ill across approximately 15 states. A Tengrinews correspondent investigated the dangers of this infection and whether a similar scenario is possible in Kazakhstan.
What is known about the record cyclosporiasis outbreak
Since the beginning of summer, U.S. authorities began reporting on a cyclosporiasis outbreak spanning multiple states.
Note: Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic intestinal disease caused by the microscopic protozoan Cyclospora cayetanensis. The infection is most commonly found in countries with warm climates and poor sanitation. Humans become infected through contaminated drinking water, as well as fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, and herbs consumed without heat treatment.
Despite the fact that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had previously stated that "Cyclosporiasis is generally not a life-threatening illness," authorities released information on August 3 regarding two fatalities:

"According to medical records, both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration," the department stated.

These are the first known deaths linked to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States.
As of August 5, the country has registered a total of 12,218 cases, with 193 individuals hospitalized.
According to the the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Taylor Farms de Mexico has voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce shipped from central Mexico following suspicions of potential contamination with the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite.
According to the CDC, these products were distributed in at least 27 states between June 29 and July 16, while the outbreak itself has already impacted no fewer than 15 states.

"Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. If you purchased recalled lettuce, throw it out or return it," the report states.

Can ordinary lettuce really infect thousands of people?
The press service of the National Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health, contacted for comment, noted that leafy greens could certainly cause an outbreak if a large batch of products proves unsafe, as seen in the U.S. case.

"If a contaminated batch enters major retail chains or catering establishments, a single product can simultaneously reach thousands of consumers in different cities and even regions. This is why foodborne outbreaks sometimes take on such a massive scale," the National Center commented.

Experts noted that leafy greens and lettuce are inherently high-risk products.

"They are eaten raw, without the heat treatment that could destroy the pathogen. The leaves are quite large and have a folded structure, so the parasite can remain on them even after the greens are washed," the experts added.

Contamination can occur during cultivation—through water, organic fertilizers, or due to sanitary violations during harvesting, packaging, and transportation.
According to Kazakhstani specialists, the number of cases in the U.S. continues to grow for several reasons:

the long incubation period of the disease;
patients do not seek medical help immediately;
laboratory confirmation takes time;
the epidemiological investigation is ongoing, so previously ill individuals are gradually being included in the statistics.

At the same time, the National Center for Public Health press service emphasizes that the parasite does not multiply in food, and the amount of the pathogen does not increase during storage. However, a single contaminated batch of leafy greens can be enough to make thousands of people sick.
Could this happen in Kazakhstan?
The National Center for Public Health reported that cyclosporiasis is not among the common infections in Kazakhstan.
According to specialists, cases are recorded extremely rarely. These are isolated instances and, as a rule, the infection is "imported" from other countries. There have been no mass outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in Kazakhstan.
Nevertheless, experts believe that a scenario similar to the American one cannot be entirely ruled out, as products are supplied to our country from all over the world. However, the probability of a large-scale outbreak is low due to the state sanitary and epidemiological control measures that imported products undergo.
The primary symptoms of cyclosporiasis include prolonged diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and other symptoms typical of intestinal infections.
However, some individuals may remain asymptomatic.
The most severe complications include dehydration, the loss of essential minerals (such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), and physical exhaustion in cases of prolonged illness.
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