A parasite widely known for causing severe, prolonged diarrhea has sickened 17 people on Long Island, as health officials also investigate a separate salmonella outbreak that may be connected to a music concert and has sent nearly 60 people to the hospital, officials said Monday.
The Nassau County Department of Health has confirmed multiple cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness often linked to imported produce. The infection can cause intense diarrhea and other symptoms that may linger for more than a month.
Officials said 11 of the confirmed Nassau County cases were reported in June alone.
“The Nassau County Department of Health is closely monitoring all reported cases of cyclosporiasis among Nassau County residents, as well as the broader increase in cases being reported nationwide,” agency spokesperson Alyssa Zohrabian said.
The county’s 17 confirmed cases mark an increase from the 10 cases reported during the same period last year.
To reduce the risk of infection, county health officials urged residents to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables, rinse produce carefully before eating it, and use clean cutting boards and utensils.
Health experts also note that heating food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit can kill the parasite.
State health officials said more than 400 cyclosporiasis cases have been reported across New York, with the majority occurring in New York City.
As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had received nearly 850 confirmed reports of cyclosporiasis across 31 states, and 86 of those cases sent the helpless victim to the hospital, according to The Hill.
The CDC is currently “aware of more than 1,500 cases that require further analysis to confirm the illness is domestically acquired cyclosporiasis,” the agency told the outlet.
Long Island is also contending with a salmonella outbreak on the East End in Suffolk County — that may have originated at a music festival on a Native American reservation, according to sources and officials.
A total of 58 people have checked into the hospital since July 1, four days after the Palm Tree Music Festival — which health officials believe may have been the source of the outbreak, sources told The Post.
Salmonella is an illness caused by bacteria on raw, undercooked or improperly stored food, usually present on raw eggs, raw meat, seafood, poultry, and can even be found on fruits, vegetables, unpasteurized dairy or untreated water, according to health officials.
Symptoms can consist of diarrhea, stomach pains, fever, vomiting and headache and usually last between a few hours and a few days.
