LAFAYETTE, La. (NEWS 15) — Cyclospora, an intestinal parasite causing serious gastrointestinal illness, continues to spread across the country, with about 15,000 total cases reported across 41 states, including 68 in Louisiana — and Lafayette leading the state in case counts.
Federal health officials said they believe the outbreak is linked to fresh produce. About 300 people have been hospitalized nationwide, though no deaths have been reported. The current case count marks a significant increase over the 250 cases reported the previous year.
Cyclospora is a parasite that travels inside a thick-walled cocoon, or cyst, which offers protection in the environment.
The life cycle begins in the field. Humans and animals excrete feces containing the cysts, which travel on raw vegetables to infect other humans and animals. Those infected, in turn, contaminate other fields, allowing the cycle to continue…