Hospitals in affected areas have treated nearly 1,000 patients suffering from extreme diarrhea caused by a dangerous parasite. Health authorities have now recorded nearly two thousand infections spanning dozens of regions.
Symptoms strike quickly, with severe stomach pain and violent bowel issues starting within hours. Some victims become too weak and end up in hospitals needing immediate IV fluids.
Experts urgently advise the public to wash fresh produce thoroughly before consuming. Tap water in certain zones may also pose a risk. Anyone experiencing blood in stool or a persistent high temperature should get checked immediately.
The parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, spreads only through contaminated food. So far, the origin has been identified by investigators.