Diarrhea-causing parasite that can contaminate raw produce causing misery across several states | CNN

Summer is peak season for hot weather delights like fresh berries and salad greens, but for now, you may want to consider cooking or at least thoroughly washing raw fruits and veggies. A parasite called Cyclospora, which can contaminate raw produce and causes ferocious and long-lasting bouts of diarrheal illness, is making people sick across several states. Michigan, which typically identifies about 50 cases of cyclosporiasis in a year, has reported almost 600 cases as of July 4, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. New York state, excluding New York City, has seen 107 cases, since May 1. It typically logs 500 to 700 cases statewide each year, according to the New York State Department of Health. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s typical for case counts to rise in the summer. Nationwide, 145 cases were reported by 17 states between May 1 and June 16, and at least 20 of those have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. Michigan’s recent cases are not included in CDC’s total. Federal and state health officials say there is no evidence of a single multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases. Investigations to identi