Mysterious parasite spreads diarrhea in 17 states in the US

As of mid-June, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 145 cases of Cyclospora infection in 17 states, all of which were domestic infections. Fox News reported on July 2. The culprit is Cyclospora, a microscopic single-celled parasite that causes intestinal infections.

According to the CDC, the typical symptom of this disease is loose diarrhea, which often turns into severe acute diarrhea and can last for weeks or even months if not treated promptly. Other accompanying symptoms include severe abdominal cramps, bloating, nausea, exhaustion and severe weight loss.

The official epidemic season of this parasite lasts from May 1 to August 31 every year. This is a period of hot weather, which often coincides with historical spikes in infections, according to the CDC.

Cases currently appear scattered in many areas, stretching from Texas to Alaska. Among them, New York is currently the state most heavily affected with the number of infections recorded from 31 to 80 cases. Followed by Texas and Illinois, each state has between 11 and 30 cases.

Although this infection can sometimes clear up on its own, most cases require treatment with antibiotics. Data from the CDC shows that of the 145 confirmed cases, 20 patients required hospitalization. There are currently no deaths recorded. The ages of the patients ranged from 5 to 86, with the median age being 42 and women accounting for 61% of all cases.

CDC is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local health agencies to actively investigate multiple federal clusters. However, health officials have not yet found the cause behind this wave of infections. “There is currently no evidence that all cases are linked to a single food source or a single federal Cyclospora outbreak,” the US CDC emphasized in its epidemiological surveillance report.

The agency also recommends that any person with the above symptoms of intestinal infection should immediately contact a medical facility for timely testing and treatment.