More than 2,000 people in Missouri have now tested positive for cyclosporiasis, the diarrheal illness caused by a microscopic parasite that has spread across the country this summer.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released new data Sunday showing 2,152 confirmed cases in the state, up from 1,950 in the previous week. That's the smallest jump in cases this month and is likely a sign that the overall rate of illness is slowing down. Health experts say case numbers may continue to increase because symptoms may not show up for two weeks or more.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in at least 17 states, including Missouri and Illinois, where iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico was contaminated with cyclospora and made people sick. The agency says the best-by dates for these recalled products have passed, and the lettuce should no longer be available in stores or restaurants.
Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite. It enters the human digestive system through food or water contaminated with human waste. Most people recover on their own, and the illness is rarely fatal.
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