More than 250 people in at least six US states have been infected with a stomach bug that may be tied to food-borne illness, the nation’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports.
The cyclospora infection causing diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms were reported in Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia and Connecticut, according a Monday statement issued by CDC.
The number of reported infections spread from over 200 cases to more than 250 on Tuesday, the CDC said, prompting the addition of Georgia and Connecticut to the list of affected states.
This is while the Midwestern states of Illinois and Kansas have also notified the health agency of one case each, which they say might have been acquired out of state but within the United States.
The CDC further reports that 10 people have so far been hospitalized due to the food-borne infection while most of the reported illnesses occurred from mid-June to early July.
Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a probe into the cyclospora infections, which are most often found in tropical or subtropical countries and have been tied to imported fresh produce in the past.
The illness is commonly spread when people ingest foods or water contaminated with feces. FDA said it is not yet clear whether the illnesses from all of the states are connected.
The agency further stated that it is investigating additional infections in the US, noting the possibility that the number of the cases may grow.