Explosive diarrhea continues to be on the rise around the nation… with one state in particular being hit EXTRA hard!
Last week, we reported that a NASTY parasite identified by the CDC as Cyclospora cayetanensis has been sweeping the country causing nausea, vomiting, and INTENSE explosive diarrhea in infected patients. At the time of reporting last week, a total of 145 people across 20 states had been infected between the beginning of May and middle of June, with 20 of them ending up in the hospital. We now know that number has SKYROCKETED across the country since then, with one state in particular where cases are up by a staggering 400 percent!
On Tuesday, a New York state official told the New York Post that cases in Michigan have QUADRUPLED just since last week! What was 170 confirmed cases has now turned into 681!
Holy s**t! Literally!
As of Monday, Texas had 48 reported cases, while Illinois has somewhere between 11 and 80, according to the CDC. Other states with confirmed cases include Alaska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida.
So what’s causing this MESSY outbreak?? Especially since the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite is more commonly associated with warmer, more tropical regions? Well, the CDC is thinking our food is the culprit!
The government agency has revealed Cyclospora can commonly be transmitted through drinking water, as well as raw produce such as lettuce, cilantro, basil, and other leafy greens that have been contaminated by feces. As of now, a common food source has yet to be identified as the definite culprit here in the US, but it probably behooves you to wash and/or cook your fruits and veggies for the time being!
51-year-old Cristy Cooper, who was infected with the parasite, spoke to the outlet about her experience:
“This is worse than like any flu I’ve ever gotten or anything, it’s just so…it’s miserable. I’m worn out from it. I really am.”
Her symptoms began with “unbearable” diarrhea on June 25, then turned into gas, fatigue, vomiting, and a fever of 100+ degrees over the next couple days. She revealed that in the heat of it all, she was using the toilet roughly 30 times a DAY!
As far as treatment goes, many healthy individuals can overcome the parasite with rest and hydration. However, the young, the elderly, and the immunocompromised face a more difficult battle. Cristy, a dialysis patient, had to go on a round of a sulfa-based antibiotic to avoid a spike in her blood pressure and heart strain as the result of inadequate hydration from the diarrhea.
As of now, there have luckily been no deaths from this outbreak.
What are your thoughts here, Perezcious readers? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.
[Images via Sony Pictures Releasing/Youtube, insert image created for PerezHilton.com]
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