TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A major outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the United States (US) has raised concerns over whether the intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite could spread to other countries, including Singapore, which relies heavily on imported food supplies.
The outbreak has infected thousands of people across the United States, with more than 6,700 laboratory-confirmed cases and thousands of suspected infections reported across multiple states. Michigan has been the hardest-hit area, with more than 10,000 people affected.
The source of the outbreak remains under investigation, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has linked one cluster of illnesses to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and supplied by Taylor Farms’ facility in central Mexico.
According to The Straits Times, Singapore has not reported a similar cyclosporiasis outbreak, and confirmed cases of the disease remain uncommon in the country. However, health experts say Singapore is not completely immune, particularly because around 90 percent of its food supply is imported.
What Is Cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite that infects the human digestive system.
The illness is best known for causing persistent, watery diarrhea, but symptoms can also include fatigue, nausea, stomach cramps, and low-grade fever. In severe cases, particularly among infants, elderly people, or those with weakened immune systems, the infection can become more serious.
Unlike some gastrointestinal illnesses, cyclosporiasis does not spread directly from person to person. Instead, people become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite.
Cyclospora commonly spreads through fresh produce such as lettuce, herbs, and vegetables because these foods are often eaten raw and may not undergo heat treatment that could kill the parasite.
How Does Cyclospora Infect the Body?
According to NPR, Cyclospora survives outside the body in microscopic structures called oocysts, which act like protective pods that allow the parasite to remain dormant on contaminated food or in water.
Once swallowed, the oocysts travel through the digestive system and release parasites inside the small intestine. The parasites then invade intestinal cells and reproduce, eventually damaging the intestinal lining.
This damage affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients and causes symptoms such as prolonged diarrhea and nausea.
A person infected with Cyclospora can release thousands of parasite-containing oocysts through diarrhea. However, the parasite is not immediately infectious when released from the body. The oocysts must mature in the environment before they can infect another person.
Scientists say this process makes Cyclospora difficult to control because the parasite can survive on crops and in water, even under conditions such as cold temperatures and chlorine exposure.
Could Singapore Experience a Similar Outbreak?
Although cyclosporiasis is common in some tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of Southeast Asia, Singapore has recorded only a small number of cases.
Gastroenterologist Benjamin Yip told The Straits Times that he had seen fewer than a handful of cyclosporiasis cases during his medical career. However, he warned that Singapore remains vulnerable to foodborne disease outbreaks.
Singapore has experienced several gastroenteritis incidents in recent years involving bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. In 2024 and 2025, the Communicable Diseases Agency reported that central kitchens, food caterers, and restaurants were among the main sources of food poisoning outbreaks.
Despite these risks, experts believe the possibility of a major Cyclospora outbreak in Singapore remains relatively low.
William Chen, director of Nanyang Technological University’s Future Ready Food Safety Hub, said local farms have integrated parasite-control systems, while imported food products are subject to inspection by the Singapore Food Agency.
Singapore also imports food from around 180 countries, which means authorities can reduce risks by restricting supplies from farms or regions linked to outbreaks without significantly affecting overall food availability.
Why Is the US Outbreak So Widespread?
Scientists say the scale of the current US outbreak remains difficult to explain.
NPR reported that experts believe imported food supplies may play a major role because Cyclospora is more common in regions where sanitation systems and water treatment facilities are limited.
The parasite can contaminate crops through polluted irrigation water, contaminated soil, or improper handling during food processing. Large-scale washing systems used in food production may also allow contamination to spread across multiple batches of produce.
Experts say the outbreak may have been caused by a combination of factors, including contaminated produce reaching large restaurant chains and being consumed by many people.
How Can People Reduce the Risk?
Health experts recommend several basic food safety practices to reduce the risk of cyclosporiasis and other foodborne illnesses.
These include washing hands before preparing food, rinsing fresh produce thoroughly under running water, checking food sources, and cooking vegetables whenever possible.
However, washing alone may not completely eliminate the risk because Cyclospora can survive certain environmental conditions.
For people infected with cyclosporiasis, treatment usually involves specific antibiotics that help stop the parasite from multiplying and allow the immune system to clear the infection.
As global food supply chains become increasingly connected, health experts say preventing outbreaks requires cooperation between farmers, food producers, restaurants, and consumers.
While Singapore's strict food safety controls make a large-scale Cyclospora outbreak unlikely, experts emphasize that continued monitoring and good hygiene practices remain essential.
Read: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes World's Second-Largest Ever
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
