Kentucky is the latest state to get hit with an intestinal parasite.

The centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting Cyclosporiasis outbreak, with cases confirmed in 18 states, including Kentucky.

Norton Health Care in Louisville says it has diagnosed 16 cases in just the last three weeks.

More about this in today's medical news, when you'll hear about the cause, symptoms and treatment.

Cyclospora is a tiny parasite that causes a diarrheal illness.

People usually get exposed through contaminated food or water, and pest outbreaks in the United States have typically been linked to contaminated produce.

So I want to emphasize that this is not a new germ.

So cases of cyclosporiasis tend to increase every year during the summer.

What is new is that some states in the Midwest, including Michigan and Ohio, are reporting hundreds of cases of cyclosporiasis.

So that's different.

In the last three weeks, Norton Health Care has diagnosed 16 people with Cyclosporiasis, all adults.

We've had seven positive tests so far this week.

Now, just for some comparison, we had 13 people test positive in all of 2025.

The most common symptom is diarrhea.

The diarrhea can be explosive and it can last for days to weeks.

Some people with this illness get a little better and then they get worse.

Several times.

Other symptoms might include abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting.

Bloating.

Poor appetite.

Some people have fatigue and low grade fever.

So people with a healthy immune system may get better on their own, but the illness can take a long time to get better.

When people develop symptoms of a foodborne illness like Cyclosporiasis, they tend to focus on the thing they last ate, right?

As much as what caused the problem with cyclosporiasis.

This is not what you had for dinner last night.

Because the incubation period, the time between when you're exposed and the time you get sick can be as short as two days, but it might be two weeks or longer.

So this it can be tricky to figure out where where infection came from.

There are there are multiple things that people can do to protect themselves.

Number one, wash your hands well with soap and water before and after handling fresh fruits and vegetables.

Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water.

Before eating them, before cooking them, or getting them ready to serve, firm fruits and vegetables.

Think things like cantaloupe or cucumbers can be scrubbed with a produce fresh and then, refrigerate leftovers promptly?

Definitely within two hours.

If people are worried that they have symptoms of cyclosporiasis, they can make an appointment with their primary care provider.

There is a test, for this illness.

This can be treated with an antibiotic, and that may shorten, the course of the illness.

Some good information there.

The state has not released an official total on the number of cases statewide.