Scores of people in the United States have been sickened by a parasite commonly linked to contaminated fresh produce that can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. But there are ways to protect yourself and still enjoy summer’s bounty of fruits and vegetables.
The exact source of one of the nation's largest outbreaks in years of cyclospora infections is still not known. And it can be hard to figure out what food sick people had in common because sometimes it’s a single ingredient that might be common in multiple recipes — like basil or cilantro.
Luckily cyclospora infections are generally treatable with antibiotics and rarely cause serious complications.
And there are ways to avoid getting it altogether.
Here are tips for reducing the risk:
Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 1,500 people in Michigan have been diagnosed with the parasitic infection and investigations into similar illnesses have been going on in 30 other states, making it the largest such outbreak in state history and one of the nation’s largest in years. No deaths have been reported.
Cyclospora surges can be tricky to investigate, and food poisoning sources can be hard to establish. Investigations can take months and sometimes never find a clear source.
In the past, people have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that were exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water. Also, it’s possible that food distributors may channel contaminated foods to both grocery stores and restaurants, making it hard to discern where tainted food came from.
Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer.
The heat-loving parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces.
While the source of the outbreak is unknown, it's a reminder to always practice basic hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food, said Dr. Erika Noel, an assistant professor at Hawaii's medical school and a pediatrician on the island of Kauai.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers don't kill cyclospora, but soap and water are highly effective at killing or removing the parasite from hands.
Previous outbreaks have been linked to raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas and salad mixes.
Noel has some tips for washing produce: When washing items like cilantro and basil, separate the leaves. For green onions, cut off the roots, remove the outer layer and run them under water while rubbing the surface. Cooking produce to an internal temperature of 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) or higher will kill cyclospora.
Research shows that washing fruits and vegetables in vinegar can be helpful. Vinegar won't kill the parasite but can help remove it. Noel recommends submerging produce in a bowl filled with three parts water and one part vinegar and swishing it around for a few minutes. Using a salad spinner to rinse with water can help get rid of the vinegary taste.
Instead of purchasing pre-mixed salad and washing individual leaves, opt for a head of lettuce and removing the outer layer.
For melons, scrub the outside before cutting through as the knife can carry germs from the rind into the fruit inside.
Peel fruits and vegetables as much as possible.
Don't forget to wash cutting boards and countertops.
Anything with tight crevices or fragile skin can be challenging to clean, like broccoli and cauliflower. Because berries are challenging, Noel recommends cooking them in pies or making jam instead of eating them raw.
Anything grown underground and covered in thick dirt are also tough to clean, such as root vegetables like carrots, potatoes and radishes.
If using pre-mixed salads that have labels that indicated the items have been washed, it's best to wash them again in water and vinegar.
Noel doesn't want the outbreak to lead to people avoiding eating fruits and vegetables; the health benefits outweigh the risks.
“We don't need to panic,” she said.
Just be aware and ensure basic hygiene habits, which is always a good practice.
This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample which had been prepared with a formalin solution and stained with safranin. (CDC via AP)
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic didn't dwell on Centre Court after getting dominated by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals.
The 39-year-old Djokovic enjoyed a warm, smile-filled embrace with his 24-year-old opponent at the net after the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat Friday, quickly packed up his tennis bags and then waved to the boisterous crowd as he held one hand to his chest to show his appreciation as he walked off.
Will the seven-time Wimbledon champion ever be back to play on these hallowed lawns again?
Only time — something that Djokovic is running out of — will tell.
It's been nearly three years since Djokovic won his record-extending 24th Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 U.S. Open. And despite reaching the semifinals at all four Grand Slams last year and reaching a final and another semi in two of three Slams this year — he acknowledges that's not enough.
“For 99% of the players, that would be a very good Grand Slam result,” Djokovic said. “For me, it’s good but not good enough, because I’m blessed and cursed to be used to something of a highest degree in terms of results and achievements.
“I always have the highest expectations for myself," Djokovic added. "So it’s kind of that internal battle really of what I’ve been through for the 20-plus years of my career, what the goals were always, the expectations, and trying to balance it out and really be a little more humble in that sense.”
Still, Djokovic expressed interest in playing Wimbledon when he’s 40: “I would like to, at least one more time,” he said.
“I feel when I’m healthy," Djokovic added, “I’m still able to play as a top-five player, still able to compete at the highest level.”
For Sinner, it was a measure of revenge after Djokovic won their last meeting in five sets in this year’s Australian Open semifinals.
“Playing against Novak,” Sinner said, “what he’s still showing is true inspiration.”
Aiming to defend his title at the grass-court Grand Slam, the top-ranked Sinner will face second-seeded Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.
Zverev ended the “Ferytale” run of British wild card Arthur Fery with an overpowering 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 victory earlier as the star-studded crowd on Centre Court witnessed two one-way contests.
Zverev will be playing for another major trophy a month after winning his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.
If there were any lingering questions over Sinner’s physical status after his meltdown at the French Open, they should be answered now.
Sinner blasted his way past Djokovic and showed off the kind of dominance he displayed before that second-round defeat in Paris.
“I knew mentally,” Sinner said, “that today I had to raise my level, which I’ve done.”
Andre Agassi attributed Sinner's performance in part to Djokovic: “What these guys can do now is all because he has shown them what’s possible,” Agassi said on the BBC.
It was another warm day in southwest London, with the temperature rising to about 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius). It was also breezy, though, and a bit cloudier than in recent days.
Still, it felt nothing like the suffocating heat and humidity in Paris when Sinner wasted a big lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, who was ranked No. 56, and had his 30-match winning streak ended.
Djokovic was coming off the longest quarterfinal in Wimbledon history, when he outlasted Felix Auger-Aliassime after 5 hours, 15 minutes on Tuesday.
Sinner, by contrast, hadn’t lost a set since he was pushed to five by Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
From the start, Sinner pushed Djokovic back with his powerful groundstrokes and came up with big serves in big moments.
When Sinner faced his only break point of the match early in the third set as late-afternoon shadows started creeping across the court, he produced an ace.
Zverev, whose breakthrough at Roland Garros came in his fourth Grand Slam final, is attempting to become the first man in the professional era (since 1968) to win his second major title at the next event immediately after his first.
Sinner has won his last nine meetings with Zverev and 14 straight sets.
“I have to trust myself and I have to believe that I can win and that’s what I’m going to do,” Zverev said before he knew who his opponent would be.
The 114th-ranked Fery, who grew up five minutes from the All England Club and played at Stanford University, was attempting to become the first wild card to reach the final since Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon in 2001.
Zverev did well not to let the pro-Fery crowd get behind the local player too much and a double fault from Fery early in the first-set tiebreaker put Zverev in control.
The British spectators did their best to encourage Fery early on, chanting his name between points as they sipped their Pimm’s under their wide-brimmed hats.
When it was over, Fery walked off to a standing ovation and applauded the crowd in return.
“I know that 99.99% of the stadium was wanting Arthur to win," Zverev said. “But it was still such an incredible atmosphere. It was such a fair crowd as well.”
The women’s final on Saturday features two Czech players, Karolina Muchova against Linda Noskova.
AP Sports Writer Ken Maguire contributed to this report.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Jannik Sinner of Italy serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Jannik Sinner of Italy returns the ball to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts to losing a point against Jannik Sinner of Italy in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates a point against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after defeating Arthur Fery of Britain in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alexander Zverev of Germany, right speaks to Arthur Fery of Britain at the net after Zverev won their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after winning a point against Arthur Fery of Britain during their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alexander Zverev of Germany, right, speaks to Arthur Fery of Britain at the net after Zverev won their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after defeating Arthur Fery of Britainn in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Arthur Fery of Britain plays a volley against Alexander Zverev of Germany in their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Alexander Zverev of Germany hits a return to Arthur Fery of Britain during their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Arthur Fery of Britain plays a run to Alexander Zverev of Germany during their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after winning a point against Arthur Fery of Britain during their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates winning a point against Arthur Fery of Britain during their men's singles semifinal match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
