Diarrhea-causing cyclosporiasis exceeds 1,000 cases in U.S. What Californians should know

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Set us as preferred Several states, primarily in the Midwest and on the East Coast, have reported thousands of cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic disease that can cause an extended bout of debilitating diarrhea.There have been cases of cyclosporiasis infection in California this year, but none has been linked to the current outbreak.

Public health officials, however, have advice for residents to stave off illness.Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by several species of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and is spread through the feces of an infected person that has contaminated food or water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People become infected with the illness by consuming food or water that has been contaminated with the parasite — the infection is not transmitted from person to person.The epicenter of the current outbreak is in Michigan, which has reported more than 1,000 cases since June, including 44 people who were hospitalized.

The state typically reports about 50 cases of cyclosporiasis annually.Now there may be hundreds more infected as 17 states have reported numerous cases.Officials say the true number of infected people is likely higher because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for the parasite.

In the United States, foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce imported from Latin America, including raspberries, cilantro, basil, snow peas and mixed salad, according to the California Department of Public Health.Officials say those who have fallen ill became sick after eating food in the United States and did not report travel during the 14 days before they got sick.

Those who have contracted cyclosporiasis have ranged in age from 5 to 86.There is currently no evidence of a single, m...