Cyclosporiasis, the stomach illness spreading across the country, is still increasing in Arkansas and Baxter County is the latest county in the north central part of the state to report cases. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is reporting 237 cases as of Friday, an increase of 32 cases of the sickness in the state since Tuesday.
Boone County is now reporting 19 cases of Cyclosporiasis, the third highest amount in the state. Baxter, Marion, Searcy and Newton counties all are reporting less than 10 cases. Benton County in the northwest part of the state leads Arkansas with 144 cases.
The ADH says Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as Cyclospora. People can become infected by consuming food or water that contains the parasite. Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening…