A mystery stomach bug that has made its way to at least eight states as of Wednesday continues to puzzle the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has enlisted the help of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate over 275 cases of the cyclospora infection in a number of states including Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
According to the CDC's data, cyclospora is a foodborne illness contracted after ingesting a tiny one-celled parasite known as cyclospora cayetanensis. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramping, bloating, fatigue, and weight loss, all of which have been known to persist for over a month if not treated immediately.
Seeing as the infection has been reported in tropical and subtropical regions in the past, foodborne outbreaks of cyclospora have been linked to imported produce. Both the CDC and FDA are scrambling to find any connection between outbreaks either in state or out of state.
Anyone who experiences the symptoms mentioned above for over a week should seek the help of their healthcare provider. The identification of this parasite requires special laboratory testing, including a stool sample.
Illness-onset dates began around mid-June and have continued through early July. Ten individuals have already been hospitalized in three states as result of their worsening conditions. No common events or food items have been linked to reported cases.