Nurses chase Cyclospora using grocery receipts, food apps and detailed interviews

In Washtenaw County, Michigan, more than 900 people have been sickened with cyclosporiasis since mid-June, and public health nurses are using unusually granular tools to trace exposures. Linda Kim, a public health nurse, has spoken with more than 100 patients and says the illness has been described as “excruciating,” including severe reports of prolonged symptoms. Her workload expanded after a March measles outbreak sickened seven people, but cyclosporiasis investigations have proved especially complex because symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear and many people can’t remember what they ate. Investigators ask for restaurant receipts, grocery app histories, and details such as the exact brand of salad mix or a specific taco.