It happens when agricultural water used for crop irrigation or washing is contaminated with human waste. When that water is sprayed on the produce, the parasite sticks to the surface.
One critical detail:
You
cannot
catch it directly from an infected person (like you would a cold or a standard stomach bug). When the parasite is shed in feces, it is immature. It has to sit out in the environment for a week or two under specific temperatures to "sporulate" and become infectious. By the time it is capable of making someone sick, it is usually already on the food you are eating.
Agricultural Runoff and Flooding
Many farms rely on open surface water—like rivers, canals, or ponds—for irrigating crops. If a heavy rainstorm or flood occurs, it can cause nearby sanitation systems, latrines, or septic tanks to overflow. This contaminated rainwater washes across the ground and flows straight into the irrigation sources.
Direct Use of Untreated Wastewater
In some regions of the world experiencing severe water scarcity, untreated or poorly treated municipal wastewater (sewage) is deliberately used to irrigate non-food crops, or accidentally mixes with clean agricultural water channels.
Why is it so hard to get rid of once it's in the water?
Once the water is contaminated, the parasite is incredibly resilient:
Chemical Resistance:
Standard chlorine treatments that easily kill bacteria (like
E. coli
) do not bother
Cyclospora
at all. Its outer shell protects it from chemical sanitizers.
Sticky Surface:
When that water is sprayed onto a field via overhead sprinklers, the parasite sticks tightly to the nooks and crannies of leaves and berries, making it very difficult for a consumer to wash off with standard tap water at home.
Along with runoff, contaminated fertilizer and irrigation sources, there is also an issue with a lack of proper bathroom and hand washing facilities for farm workers.
What can we do to take precautions with our produce? Should doing the vinegar/water mix rinse in the sink and then rinse them off ensure cleaning them enough?
One critical detail:
You
cannot
catch it directly from an infected person (like you would a cold or a standard stomach bug). When the parasite is shed in feces, it is immature. It has to sit out in the environment for a week or two under specific temperatures to "sporulate" and become infectious. By the time it is capable of making someone sick, it is usually already on the food you are eating.
From the article. “Thoroughly washing and cleaning produce before eating, along with diligent hand hygiene, are key prevention methods.”
Even if it wasn’t in the article, it’s just good practice when eating and preparing foods…especially for groovychicks
FunBluejay5121 | 3 hours ago
How you get it:
It happens when agricultural water used for crop irrigation or washing is contaminated with human waste. When that water is sprayed on the produce, the parasite sticks to the surface.
One critical detail: You cannot catch it directly from an infected person (like you would a cold or a standard stomach bug). When the parasite is shed in feces, it is immature. It has to sit out in the environment for a week or two under specific temperatures to "sporulate" and become infectious. By the time it is capable of making someone sick, it is usually already on the food you are eating.
Tll6 | 3 hours ago
How is agricultural water getting contaminated with human waste?
-UnicornFart | 3 hours ago
It’s extremely common.
Peripatetictyl | an hour ago
Water, like from the toilet?
ApprehensivePhase750 | an hour ago
Brawndo got lectrolytes
IBeDumbAndSlow | 40 minutes ago
It's what plants crave
sweetica | 2 hours ago
Didn't new EPA deregulations allow for more contaminants in water, including human waste? Thanks, Trump!
Bellypats | 2 hours ago
Google Milorganite.
Droviin | an hour ago
That's very processed though. I don't believe it's possible for a parasite to survive their process.
But yeah, it's our Milwaukee poo.
FunBluejay5121 | 2 hours ago
Agricultural Runoff and Flooding Many farms rely on open surface water—like rivers, canals, or ponds—for irrigating crops. If a heavy rainstorm or flood occurs, it can cause nearby sanitation systems, latrines, or septic tanks to overflow. This contaminated rainwater washes across the ground and flows straight into the irrigation sources.
Direct Use of Untreated Wastewater In some regions of the world experiencing severe water scarcity, untreated or poorly treated municipal wastewater (sewage) is deliberately used to irrigate non-food crops, or accidentally mixes with clean agricultural water channels.
Why is it so hard to get rid of once it's in the water? Once the water is contaminated, the parasite is incredibly resilient: Chemical Resistance: Standard chlorine treatments that easily kill bacteria (like E. coli ) do not bother Cyclospora at all. Its outer shell protects it from chemical sanitizers. Sticky Surface: When that water is sprayed onto a field via overhead sprinklers, the parasite sticks tightly to the nooks and crannies of leaves and berries, making it very difficult for a consumer to wash off with standard tap water at home.
LeoKitCat | 2 hours ago
The sell processed human sewage waste (called sludge) as agricultural fertilizer, look it up it’s the norm
ArachnomancerCarice | an hour ago
Along with runoff, contaminated fertilizer and irrigation sources, there is also an issue with a lack of proper bathroom and hand washing facilities for farm workers.
Prudent_Kiwi_2761 | 21 minutes ago
Cost cutting deregulation by the trump administration
FunBluejay5121 | 4 hours ago
Also Northwest Ohio; specifically the Toledo area. It’s really bad …don’t ask me how I know 💥
MattIsLame | an hour ago
good. a pox on Ohio!
amalgaman | 4 hours ago
They still haven’t figured out the transmission vector?
RockitSheep | 4 hours ago
RFK jr is taking a close second look at a raccoon penis. Results to follow.
Spirited-Reputation6 | 3 hours ago
Didn’t he say that so far sucking and fucking a raccoon penis isn’t the cause, but a third even more intimate look is still required?
tatalailabirla | 3 hours ago
I can no longer tell if this is a joke. USA! USA!
ScoffersGonnaScoff | 3 hours ago
He will attempt to swallow a whole one raw while wearing jeans in an ice bath, more to follow…..
BigCliff911 | 4 hours ago
Explosive!
Glum-Breadfruit-6421 | 2 hours ago
REgulAtIOns BAd
BumbleMuggin | 4 hours ago
Looks like Michigan will finally be able to get back in their favor pair jeans from 10 years ago.
cthulhucomes | 3 hours ago
To shreds, you say?
knarfolled | 2 hours ago
And the wife?
ScoffersGonnaScoff | 3 hours ago
We must defund the CDC!!!
/s
Alternative-Key-5647 | an hour ago
America's under a wave of explosive diarrhea, but somehow there's zero political backlash in the media
bawng | 2 hours ago
Mightshitagain
Broken_By_Default | an hour ago
No clear source? Great.
NLtbal | an hour ago
Bummer
PsyAstronaut | 53 minutes ago
That's a shitty situation.
Rough-Age6546 | an hour ago
New York is dealing with the same internally
tideshark | 46 minutes ago
What can we do to take precautions with our produce? Should doing the vinegar/water mix rinse in the sink and then rinse them off ensure cleaning them enough?
Silencer306 | 22 minutes ago
Avoid raw stuff. Cook completely. Stay away from berries and melons. Or wash melon rind with brush.
Also Lysol disinfectant wipes don’t kill it off surfaces.
There was a post yesterday https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/1up92rm/diarrheacausing_parasite_that_can_contaminate_raw
dezertryder | 4 hours ago
Have you tried washing your hands?……..
FunBluejay5121 | 3 hours ago
One critical detail: You cannot catch it directly from an infected person (like you would a cold or a standard stomach bug). When the parasite is shed in feces, it is immature. It has to sit out in the environment for a week or two under specific temperatures to "sporulate" and become infectious. By the time it is capable of making someone sick, it is usually already on the food you are eating.
wutchamafuckit | 3 hours ago
The confident ignorance in your comment is wild.
Groovychick1978 | 3 hours ago
Washing does not get rid of the parasite. If you had done even the slightest bit of reading, you would know that.
It requires cooking. So you guys need to avoid leafy greens, salads, raw peas, carrots, etc.
Bellypats | 2 hours ago
“If you had read the article”…
From the article. “Thoroughly washing and cleaning produce before eating, along with diligent hand hygiene, are key prevention methods.”
Even if it wasn’t in the article, it’s just good practice when eating and preparing foods…especially for groovychicks
Groovychick1978 | an hour ago
It is always good practice, but won't help in this case. The parasite gets into cellular spaces, you can't wash them off.