Parasite behind ‘explosive diarrhea’ spread across 31 US states: What to know

A parasite outbreak is rapidly spreading across the 31 US states, causing infectious illness, according to reports released by the federal and state health officials.

There have been 843 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May, resulting in 86 hospitalizations and no deaths. Federal officials reportedly confirmed that the higher number of infections is significantly higher than before.

This outbreak of more than 2,800 cases occurs once a year after the Trump administration restricted funding to state and local health departments and curtailed program activities dedicated to coordinating information on foodborne illness, like cyclospora.

In this connection, Barbara Kowalcyk, an associate professor at the George Washington University’s Milken Institute of Public Health said: “It’s like putting a puzzle together and you start taking pieces out of your puzzle, it's harder to see the whole picture, and that’s what we have done. We have taken pieces out of the whole puzzle.”

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 843 confirmed cases and 1,500 suspected cases of cyclosporiasis across 31 states. On the contrary, eighty-six people have been hospitalized but no deaths occur. The CDC anticipates the national tally will increase partly because of common delays in disease investigation.

Cyclospera Cayetanensis

The illness is mainly caused by Cyclospera cayetanensis-a microscopic parasite commonly transmitted through water or fecally contaminated production.

Symptoms typically appear roughly one week after exposure, though the incubation period can range from two days to more than two weeks.

The Michigan health department is advising restaurants and commercial kitchens in the southeast to deep clean or cook leafy greens, snow peas, some herbs and raspberries.

Following the ongoing outbreak, a Southern California woman said that she has recovered from cyclosporiasis, an illness she detailed making her "the sickest I’ve ever been.”

She further described days of severe gastrointestinal illness, adding that she suffered intense stomach pain and was unable to keep food down.

“It was coming out of both ends. Every time I tried to eat, it was like a stabbing pain in my stomach, and I couldn't keep anything down, she continued.”