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Mystery parasite that's causing painful explosive diarrhea continues to grow in US state as more than 100 become infected
Dozens of North Carolina residents have been sickened by a mysterious parasitic illness, health officials warn.
The health department in Wake County, home to Raleigh, said this week that it has confirmed 135 cases of Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness that causes explosive diarrhea, bloating, and vomiting.
Since the first reports were filed in May, officials have investigated three local restaurants, though they believe 'herbs and vegetables' may be the culprit.
The department declined to reveal which restaurants were investigated. No deaths have been reported.
The health department in Wake County, home to Raleigh, said this week that it has confirmed 135 cases of Cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis
Cyclosporiasis can lead to intestinal distress like watery diarrhea, cramps, bloating, and a loss of appetite, according to the CDC
'We have not identified the specific contaminated food item, and the outbreak appears to be over,' spokesperson with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) told local news station WRAL.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also called Cyclospora. It's native to tropical and subtropical regions and is typically spread when people consume food contaminated with feces.
The bacteria usually needs to be in the environment for one or two weeks after being passed in stool for it to infect someone, which means it is usually not spread from one person to another.
It's most often found in produce like fresh herbs, romaine lettuce, and berries. In Wake County's case, officials believe the illnesses could be linked to contaminated herbs and vegetables.
The department did not specify which particular foods are suspected.
Cyclosporiasis may not cause symptoms, but typical signs include watery diarrhea, appetite loss, weight loss, cramping, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue.
Local resident Haley Trent told WRAL: 'The biggest thing is the scariness of it. That it could happen any time and that there's no way to really protect yourself from it.'
Cyclosporiasis is caused by eating produce contaminated with feces
Ms Trent experienced body chills, 'extreme' fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite. 'I couldn't keep any food down and couldn't keep any water or any Gatorades, any type of medicine down,' she said.
She had to be rushed to the emergency room twice but has since recovered.
Though the parasite typically goes away on its own, patients may need IV fluids and antibiotics to alleviate their symptoms.
There were about 2,200 cases of cyclosporiasis in the US last year, according to the CDC, but there were no reported deaths.
This is a dramatic increase from just 537 cases in 2016, though officials believe this could be due to DNA and stool sample tests becoming more widely available.
To prevent illness, the CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables and cleaning produce before using it.