Galenn Sekulich, a 33-year-old Detroit mother of three, began experiencing severe nausea, racing heart, and loss of appetite on June 21. Her condition rapidly worsened to include vomiting, dizziness, and profuse sweating, prompting an ER visit that confirmed cyclosporiasis.
The parasitic infection, spread through contaminated food or water, causes prolonged gastrointestinal distress. Sekulich described it as a relentless combination of norovirus and severe fatigue that has persisted for over two weeks, resulting in a 10-pound weight loss in five days.
"It has just lingered and lingered," Sekulich told USA TODAY, noting her struggle to eat anything beyond toast. Treatment was complicated by her allergy to Bactrim, a common antibiotic for the illness.
Nationally, cyclosporiasis cases are rising. The infection primarily comes from consuming contaminated fresh produce. Sekulich, who cannot pinpoint her exact source, has drastically altered her family's diet, avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables out of caution.
Her case is part of a larger outbreak in Michigan, with over 1,200 reported sick. Health officials are still investigating the source, leaving Sekulich and others to grapple with a mysterious and debilitating illness.