Health Officials Confirm Diarrhea Cases in Adams County, Illinois

The nasty parasite that has caused a wave of explosive diarrhea cases across America has now been confirmed in Adams County, Illinois as health officials are investigating this local outbreak.

The Adams County, Illinois Health Department shared these details on their social media places Friday morning.

In case you can't read the small print on your device, here's a snippet from their bulletin:

"In the last 24 hours, the Adams County Health Department (ACHD) has identified 9 cases of cyclosporiasis within Adams County residents. An active investigation is currently underway to identify potential common sources of exposure."

What are the symptoms that you've been infected with the Cyclosporiasis parasite?

The main signs that people are reporting include watery diarrhea, stomach cramping, bloating or increased gas, fatigue and nausea. They say that the normal recovery time with treatment is 1-2 weeks, but I've seen comments on our social media places saying some have been victimized by this nasty bug up to 4 weeks.

While the thought of diarrhea might cause some to chuckle, there are serious health complications that can develop including dehydration. For someone with no extra health issues or vulnerable conditions, that's likely to not be a problem. But, for those whose health is not ideal, serious complications can develop.

I've not seen a cause isolated by national health officials, but I've seen a report from the CDC that shredded iceberg lettuce may be the source. The best way to deal with avoiding this outbreak is to wash all hands and food thoroughly before preparing. As for me, I'll be avoiding shredded lettuce until I'm told not to.