Michigan health officials identify ‘potential source’ of parasite outbreak

Authorities said inquiry into cyclosporiasis outbreak was continuing but early results pointed to salad greens and lettuce

• What is cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness causing explosive' diarrhea?

State health officials in Michigan said on Monday they have identified lettuces and salad greens as a potential source" of the thousands of cases of cyclosporiasis - a parasitic infection that causes watery diarrhea", loss of appetite and weight loss.

In a statement, the Michigan department of health and human services said the investigation is still continuing, but early results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak", though officials also cautioned it is too early to rule out other food sources.