# 'Explosive Diarrhea Parasite' Spreading Across 31 States, CDC Warns
The CDC has issued a warning about a parasitic infection spreading rapidly across the United States. Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite known for causing severe gastrointestinal illness, has now been detected in 31 states.
The parasite causes acute diarrhea, often accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, and fatigue. Symptoms typically begin 7 to 10 days after exposure. For healthy adults, the illness resolves on its own within weeks, but people with weakened immune systems face prolonged suffering and serious complications.
Infection happens through contaminated food and water. Produce stands as the primary culprit, particularly berries, leafy greens, and herbs imported from countries with poor sanitation infrastructure. The parasite's tough outer shell survives washing, making prevention tricky.
Here's how to protect your family. Wash all produce thoroughly under running water, even items you'll peel. When possible, choose domestically grown produce, since imported goods carry higher risk. Families traveling to developing nations should boil or treat drinking water and avoid raw vegetables unless the family personally peels them.
Parents should watch for warning signs in children and elderly relatives. While most cases resolve without treatment, a doctor can prescribe trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole if symptoms persist beyond a week. Dehydration poses the biggest risk for young children, so offer frequent sips of water, electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte, and broth.
The CDC continues tracking this outbreak. If your child develops persistent diarrhea after eating fresh produce, contact your pediatrician. Keep records of what your family ate in the days before illness began, since health departments use this information to identify