Two deaths have now been linked to the cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan, according to Eyewitness News ABC7NY. Health officials confirmed the fatalities, marking a serious turn in an outbreak that had been spreading for weeks.
The deaths were confirmed as the number of cases in the state climbed past 11,000, the station reported. The figure underscores how widely the illness has spread in Michigan.
Both people who died had significant underlying conditions, according to the report. Authorities shared no other details about the two victims.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite, the station reported. It is the same parasite that has driven the surge in cases across the state.
The illness spreads through contaminated food or water, according to Eyewitness News ABC7NY. That route of transmission has been central to the investigation into the outbreak.
Federal health officials have tied cases in Michigan and eight other states to shredded iceberg lettuce, the station reported. The lettuce emerged as a common thread linking illnesses across multiple states.
That lettuce was voluntarily recalled, according to the report. The recall was aimed at pulling the suspect product from the supply chain as the investigation continued.