A Stomach Bug You May Not Have Heard Of Is Making People Sick

(KMDL-FM) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an ominous warning for residents of Louisiana and almost two dozen other states. There is an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness. That illness has sickened almost 150 people, sending 20 of them to the hospital for treatment across the country.

a group of people sitting around a hospital bed

What makes this parasitic outbreak even more concerning is that health officials across the nation have still not been able to pinpoint the source of the infections. According to the CDC, the highest concentrations of the illness can be found in clusters in New York, Illinois, and Texas.

What Are The Symptoms Associated with the Parasitic Outbreak?

There is also a concern that the illness may be underreported since many patients recover from the illness without seeking medical attention. The symptoms of the illness are commonly associated with other illnesses, and many of those infected don't bother to get tested, since the malady usually runs its course over a few days.

But in more severe infections, symptoms can last for several weeks or months. It's those cases that have officials concerned since 20 people have needed hospital treatment to manage the infection.

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The symptoms are not pleasant; they include watery diarrhea, which is one of the most common signs of the illness. Other symptoms include a loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. Again, those symptoms are shared by many other illnesses, but in the case of cyclosporiasis, they can be more severe and longer-lasting.

READ MORE: Fungal "Super Bug" Found in Louisiana

The CDC says 45 cases of the disease were reported by individuals who traveled recently outside the United States. But there were 145 cases reported where people reported symptoms and did not travel outside the U.S.

Which States Have Confirmed Cases of the Parasitic Outbreak?

The states where the illness has been confirmed, including the aforementioned New York, Illinois, and Texas, are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

READ MORE: Breakbone Fever - What Louisiana Travelers Need to Know

Health officials noted that cases of cyclosporiasis are more common in warm weather months. In the U.S., the most likely time for the infection to occur is between May 1 and August 31; that's based on CDC data. So far, there has not been a link established between the current outbreak and a common food source, but investigators are still sifting through the cases.