This summer, cyclosporiasis caught the attention of the entire nation after an outbreak raised fears for the illness.
Cyclosporiasis - caused by the parasite cyclospora - is an illness that has gone viral for its symptoms of explosive bowel movements.
But is it still spreading in New York City? Here's what we know.
Latest on cyclosporiasis in NYC
In New York City, the cases continue to trend downward, although new patients are still being diagnosed weekly.
City officials said they had seen an increased number of cases this year, with the most being diagnosed in mid-July.
Since May 1, NYC has seen 614 reported cases of cyclosporiasis. For the week of Aug. 10, however, only nine cases were reported, showing a downward trend. The investigation is still ongoing, says NYC Health.
How does cyclosporiasis spread?
The
sickness spreads through food or drinking water that is contaminated with feces.
"In the US, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce," the CDC says.
"People can get infected with Cyclospora more than once."
How to prevent cyclosporiasis
Some tips from the NYC Health Department to protect yourself during this time include:
- Washing hands with soap before preparing or handling food, and after
- Washing firm fruits and veggies with a produce brush, and cutting off bruised areas
- Wash and sanitize utensils, surfaces, cutting boards and display cases both before and after handling food
Amethyst Martinez is a New York City-based journalist covering politics, life, culture and trends in the city for USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are there still new cases of cyclosporasis in NYC? Yes. Here's how many
