Two people have died in the United States after contracting Cyclosporiasis, marking the first known deaths linked to the country’s largest recorded outbreak of the disease.

Cyclosporiasis is an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite that thrives in human waste.

The deaths were recorded in Michigan, the state hardest hit by the outbreak.

Reuters reported on Monday that the state health authorities said both patients had serious underlying medical conditions that may have been worsened by the infection and the severe dehydration associated with the illness.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it had confirmed 6,707 laboratory cases nationwide as of 28 July, alongside more than 11,500 suspected cases awaiting laboratory confirmation.

Michigan, the hardest-hit, has recorded 11,234 cases as of Monday, including 193 hospitalisations.

About Cyclosporiasis

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite known as Cyclospora cayetanensis.

According to the CDC, people become infected after eating food or drinking water contaminated with human faeces containing the parasite.

Although the disease is not usually life-threatening, it can cause severe illness in some people.

Symptoms include watery diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, fatigue, and dehydration.

The CDC notes that some infected people may not develop symptoms, while untreated infections can last for weeks or even months, with symptoms disappearing and returning over time.

Outbreak investigation

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked part of the outbreak to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms’ operations in central Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants.

The affected lettuce has since been recalled.

However, investigators believe the contaminated lettuce does not explain all reported infections and are examining whether other food sources may also be responsible.

Epidemiologists suspect that more than one outbreak may be occurring simultaneously.

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Public health experts told Reuters that recent staffing and funding cuts across US health agencies may have slowed efforts to investigate and contain the outbreak.

Paul Bollyky, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine, was quoted to have said that “Cyclospora is harder to track than many foodborne pathogens because, unlike bacteria, it cannot be grown ⁠in the lab or easily genome-mapped to trace an outbreak.”

Mr Bollyky warned that reduced staffing in public health departments could make outbreaks more difficult to investigate and control.

He said the scale of the outbreak raises broader questions about the safety of the US food supply.

“Anytime you have over 10,000 people infected with a foodborne pathogen, you do have to wonder whether this is a canary in the coal mine.”

Shareholders of the largest pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, approved a dividend of ₦1.50 per 50 kobo ordinary share, amounting to ₦3.6 billion, at the Company’s 27th Annual General Meeting held virtually on Thursday, 30 July.

The approval comes against the backdrop of a year in which the company achieved key milestones in its growth trajectory. It also coincides with the one-year anniversary of the smooth transition of leadership at both the Board and Management level — a transition shareholders acknowledged as a testament to Fidson’s strong corporate governance culture and succession planning. It also reflects shareholders’ confidence in the Company’s continued ability to deliver sustainable value despite a challenging operating environment.

The Founder and Chairman of Fidson, Fidelis Ayebae, in his address to shareholders, said 2025 marked a defining year in the history of the Company.

“We recorded revenue of ₦119.06 billion, becoming the first pharmaceutical company in Nigeria to surpass the ₦100 billion annual revenue milestone. This achievement reflects the dedication of our people, the confidence of our shareholders, and the effectiveness of our long-term growth strategy.”

Also recognising critical enablers of the business, Mr Ayebae expressed his profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria for improving the operating environment for local pharmaceutical manufacturers through strategic policies that have strengthened the ability of industry players like Fidson to meet the high demand for pharmaceutical products at affordable prices for Nigerians.

Mr Ayebae added that, beyond financial performance, the Company continued to make strategic investments that will shape the future of healthcare manufacturing in Africa. He said:

“Our ongoing expansion projects have reached advanced stages and, upon completion, will position Fidson as the largest and most sophisticated pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are confident that Fidson is well-positioned to deliver sustainable growth, deepen healthcare access, and continue to create superior value for our shareholders and all stakeholders.”

Responding to questions and comments from shareholders, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Biola Adebayo, reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to sustaining growth through innovation, manufacturing excellence, and strategic investments.

“Our focus remains clear—to deepen our manufacturing capabilities, widen our product portfolio, improve market penetration, and build a healthcare institution that delivers value to consumers, healthcare professionals, shareholders, and society at large. We will achieve this by leveraging emerging opportunities across Africa and continually strengthening our processes for sustainable growth.”

Shareholders who spoke during the meeting commended the Board and Management for maintaining the Company’s growth trajectory and a dividend policy that rewards investors while preserving adequate resources for future expansion. They also expressed confidence in the management’s ability to build on existing achievements and further strengthen Fidson’s position as the leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Nigeria.

In addition to approving the dividend, shareholders considered and approved the resolutions presented at the AGM, including the election and re-election of directors, authorisation to fix auditors’ remuneration, and the election of members of the Statutory Audit Committee, further reinforcing the Company’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound corporate governance.

The meeting also highlighted Fidson’s continued commitment to accessible shareholder engagement through the use of electronic annual reports, e-dividend platforms, and virtual AGM participation, enabling shareholders to participate more conveniently in the affairs of the Company.

As Fidson Healthcare Plc moves into a new phase of growth, the Company remains committed to its vision of adding value to lives through quality pharmaceutical products while delivering sustainable returns to shareholders and contributing meaningfully to the development of Africa’s healthcare ecosystem.