Explosive diarrhea parasite invades Long Island as separate bacteria outbreak sickens dozens after music festival

The notorious “explosive diarrhea” parasite has infected 17 people on Long Island – while a salmonella outbreak possibly tied to a music concert has hospitalized nearly 60 people, officials said Monday.Nassau County’s health departments have confirmed multiple cases of cyclosporiasis, linked to imported produce that strikes its victims with rabid diarrhea that can last more than a month.There were 11 cases in June alone, the department said.“The Nassau County Department of Health is closely monitoring all reported cases of cyclosporiasis among Nassau County residents, as well as the broader increase in cases being reported nationwide,” agency spokesperson Alyssa Zohrabian said. The 17 confirmed cases is an uptick of the 10 cases reported over the same period last year.County health officials recommended residents wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables, carefully washing all produce before eating it, and using clean cutting boards and utensils. Heating food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit can also kill the parasite, according to health experts. Over 400 cases have been reported in New York state alone, the majority of which have been in New York City, according to state health officials.As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had received nearly 850 confirmed reports of cyclosporiasis across 31 states, and 86 of those cases sent the helpless victim to the hospital, according to The Hill. The CDC is currently “aware of more than 1,500 cases that require further analysis to confirm the illness is domestically acquired cyclosporiasis,” the agency told the outlet. Long Island is also contending with a salmonella outbreak on the East End in Suffolk County — that may have originated at a music festival on a Native American reservation, according to sources and officials. A total of 58 people have checked into the hospital since July 1, four days after the Palm Tree ...