ORLANDO, Fla. – A microscopic parasite making waves across the country has also ramped up in Florida, according to the CDC.
That parasite — Cyclospora cayetanensis — is responsible for an intestinal illness called “cyclosporiasis,” which can cause watery diarrhea with potentially explosive bowel movements.
Health officials explained that Cyclospora spreads when people eat or drink water that was contaminated with feces.
However, the CDC noted that in the U.S., cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been linked to various types of fresh produce.
Outbreak season for cyclosporiasis kicked off on May 1 and runs through Aug. 31.
Reported incidents ramped up significantly last month, though, with nearly 300 cases being reported statewide.
“The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis was likely higher than the number reported,” the CDC’s website reads. “This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora.”
Anyone who experiences symptoms of Cyclospora infection is urged to contact their healthcare provider, though health officials have assured that most people with healthy immune symptoms will eventually recover from cyclosporiasis even without treatment.
For more information on cyclosporiasis and its symptoms, visit the CDC’s website here.