SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – A handful of cyclosporiasis cases have been confirmed in Lee and Hillsborough counties as the parasitic illness spreads across at least 17 states, according to Dr. Ron Andari, a gastroenterologist with Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. No cases have been reported in Manatee or Sarasota counties.
Andari said the illness is transmitted through uncooked foods — specifically raw vegetables, green leafy vegetables, garnishing herbs, and berries.
Nationally, at least one state has reported more than 700 cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to the parasite — a count that quadrupled from roughly 170 in less than a week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said several hundred cases have been reported since May 1, but the actual number is likely higher. At least 20 people have been hospitalized. Health officials said there is currently no evidence of a single outbreak linking all the cases…