Hospitals in multiple states have treated nearly 1,000 patients suffering from extreme diarrhea caused by a dangerous parasite. Health authorities have now recorded nearly two thousand infections spanning 31 states.
Symptoms appear suddenly, with severe stomach pain and violent bowel issues starting within hours. Some victims collapse from dehydration and end up in emergency rooms needing urgent hydration.
Experts strongly warn the public to scrupulously clean fruits and vegetables before consuming. Local water supplies in certain zones may also be unsafe. Anyone experiencing rectal bleeding or a fever lasting over a day should get checked immediately.
The parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, spreads exclusively via tainted produce. So far, the origin has been pinpointed by investigators.