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 in a short time. Some victims collapse from dehydration and end up in hospitals needing urgent hydration.
Experts urgently advise the public to scrupulously clean fruits and vegetables before consuming. Tap water in certain zones may also be unsafe. 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, no source has been pinpointed by investigators.