According to the Centers for Disease Control, a significant number of individuals, ranging from 21 to 30 people, have contracted a foodborne parasite in New York state since April. This outbreak in New York is part of a larger pattern of infections caused by a single-celled parasite known as Cyclospora, which has affected over 200 individuals across 22 states.
Since the onset of this outbreak, approximately 30 people have required hospitalization due to cyclosporiasis, the illness resulting from infection by the parasite. Investigators are actively working to determine the origin of the outbreak.
Typically, Cyclospora spreads through the consumption of contaminated food, often fresh produce that has come into contact with fecal matter. Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, and fatigue.
The CDC has already identified a connection between an outbreak in Georgia and Alabama and a contaminated batch of broccoli. However, officials emphasize that the source of the outbreak may vary across different states, stating that there is currently “no indication” that broccoli continues to be a source of illness.
{Matzav.com}
