Explosive Diarrhea Bug Update – CDC Says Avoid These Foods

(KMDL-FM) Residents of Louisiana and about two dozen other states have learned a new scientific word in recent weeks. That word is Cyclosporiasis. That's the disease that has been running, no pun intended, rampant through the digestive tracts of nearly 3,000 Americans over the past few weeks.

Louisiana Cases of Cyclosporiasis Continue to Grow

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is compiling a list of suggested foods and food products you should avoid until the precise source of the Cyclosporiasis outbreak has been identified and confirmed. In the meantime, certain foods should be avoided out of an abundance of caution and others that should be prepared using specific guidelines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that of those 3,000 cases, 86 of them have resulted in hospitalizations. So, this parasitic bug is very real and very dangerous. Of course, the symptoms that grab headlines are explosive diarrhea, but there are other major concerns with this infection.

What Are The Symptoms of a Cyclospora Infection?

Someone infected with the microscopic parasite Cyclospora might also exhibit these signs. These include a loss of appetite, bloating and burping with flatulence, fatigue, low-grade fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and watery stools, and sometimes explosive diarrhea.

Authorities feel the disease cases may be severly under reported because most people in good health won't have severe symptoms, and if they do, those symptoms won't last very long.

CDC Confirms Certain Foods Should Be Avoided for Good Health

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Again, there has been no specific food or food group that is confirmed as the source of the current outbreak, but CDC guidelines suggest that all fresh produce, fruits, and vegetables be thoroughly washed before consumption.

READ MORE: Do Not Wash These Foods Before Cooking

If possible, you might want to try rinsing under warm or hot water.  This means more than just a rinse under running water; you might actually want to scrub the items with your hands or a soft brush.

Your other option to ensure food safety in this case is thorough cooking. Food safety experts say bringing food to a temperature in excess of 158 degrees Fahrenheit will also remove and destroy the parasite.

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Health officials also remind you that once you've cut or used fresh fruit or produce, make sure that you put the remaining portions of those fresh items in your refrigerator. Leaving them out for more than two hours could expose them to reinfection or a new infection from another microscopic particle that wants to make you sick.

READ MORE: Parasitic Outbreak Confirmed in Louisiana

Granted, other things can cause an upset stomach and feelings of nausea. Here are 12 of them right now.