More than 1,500 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in Michigan since June 22.
Forty-four people have been hospitalized as health officials work to find the source of the outbreak.
The intestinal illness is caused by the Cyclospora parasite.
People become infected by consuming contaminated fresh produce or water with symptoms beginning two to 14 days after exposure.
The outbreak first hit southeast and mid-Michigan hard but is spreading across the state with Kent County reporting 10 cases, Muskegon 25, Ottawa 15 and Allegan 2 as of Friday morning.
“Of course those numbers are very fluid and we're receiving more to investigate as the day goes on and we anticipate that we'll continue to see that.”
That’s Kent County Deputy Administrative Health Officer Karla Black, who says food safety is paramount - wash hands before touching food, rinse fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water and scrub firm produce like melons with a produce brush.
“Because basically if you don't wash that off, and then you use a knife to cut into the fruit, you're basically taking all the bad things that are on the outside and then putting it onto the parts that you eat.”
Those who do become sick with ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms should contact their doctor for evaluation.
“Typically when people get the stomach flu, they think, oh, you know, it's only bad for like one or 2 days with this… the symptoms of the explosive diarrhea can last for weeks.”
The infection can be treated with a round of antibiotics.
For a weekly dose of news right to your inbox, sign up for the WGVU newsletter.
