(KMDL-FM) No, this is not the kind of “headline” that any chamber of commerce in any Louisiana town is going to want promoted, but because of a parasitic infection, explosive diarrhea has become part of the discussion when considering travel to any Louisiana city or town.
The Centers for Disease Control and the Louisiana Department of Health have confirmed there are at least 70 cases of Cyclosporiasis that have been linked to the Cyclospora parasite. The parasite has been linked to fresh produce, and that has led to recalls from certain growers, packers, and producers.
In comparison to other illness outbreaks such as COVID or the seasonal flu, 70 cases doesn’t seem like a lot. But when you factor in what’s normal for this particular malady, the number of cases reported to LDH during “Cyclosporiasis Season”, which is generally May through August, is twice the normal caseload.
To put that number into a deeper perspective, there have been over 1,600 episodes of the infection in more than 30 states. Some of the hardest hit states have been Michigan and New York. Other states with significant case counts include Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Which Louisiana Parishes Do You Think of When You Think “Explosive Diarrhea”?
In Louisiana, the two “hot spot” areas, probably not a good choice of words when discussing explosive diarrhea, are Lafayette Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish. According to a report by the Louisiana Department of Health, five patients in those parishes were hospitalized because of the infection. There were no deaths reported…