The cyclospora outbreak hasn’t taken hold in Mass. — but it’s exploding on social media - The Boston Globe
A national cyclospora outbreak is causing illness across the U.S., though Massachusetts has remained largely unaffected so far. While health officials investigate potential links to produce, the situation has sparked significant social media commentary and memes.
Why it matters
Foodborne illness outbreaks highlight the importance of public health surveillance and the impact of government funding on disease tracking infrastructure.
Thousands of people across the country have fallen ill with cyclosporiasis, the dreaded infection brought on by a parasite whose source has yet to be identified.
And while New England has so far avoided the worst of the outbreak , the threat of explosive diarrhea has plenty of people on edge — though not the edge of their toilet seats.
Health officials have not definitively identified the source of the infections, though investigators in the Midwest have said those outbreaks may be tied to lettuce or salad greens.
That hasn’t stopped irreverent observers on social media from spinning up memes and commentary on the situation.
Past cyclospora outbreaks have been caused by lettuce and other leafy greens, as well as other types of produce such as raspberries and snow peas. Infections typically spread from foods exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in