By Mack Callahan
Well, Kansas, congratulations.
We’ve officially reached the point where state health officials are warning people about a parasite that causes what doctors politely describe as “explosive diarrhea.” That’s not a colorful metaphor. That’s the actual symptom.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is currently tracking more than 20 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. The infections have been confirmed across 11 Kansas counties, with Johnson County leading the pack at eight cases. Other confirmed infections have been reported in Cherokee, Douglas, Ellis, Leavenworth, Lyon, Marshall, Osage, Reno, Sedgwick, and Wyandotte counties.
The good news? Shawnee County hasn’t reported any confirmed cases.
The bad news? This parasite doesn’t care about your weekend barbecue.
Unlike the stomach bug that ruins your Friday night and disappears by Sunday, cyclospora can stick around for weeks—or even months—if you don’t get the right treatment. The symptoms aren’t subtle either: relentless watery diarrhea, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and enough bathroom trips to make you question every life decision that led to eating that salad.
Speaking of salad…
Health officials say outbreaks are commonly linked to contaminated fresh produce, especially imported items like cilantro, basil, raspberries, and bagged salad mixes. The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with human feces. Thankfully, it doesn’t spread directly from one person to another, so your coworker isn’t going to infect the whole office simply by showing up on Monday looking miserable.
Water isn’t always safe either. Cyclospora has been associated with recreational water, including swimming pools and splash pads, because it’s surprisingly resistant to the levels of chlorine normally used to keep those facilities clean.
Perhaps the most frustrating part is that this isn’t something your doctor automatically tests for. Routine stool tests often miss it. Physicians have to specifically order a gastrointestinal pathogen panel that includes Cyclospora. If they don’t think to ask, you may spend weeks wondering why your digestive system has declared open rebellion.
Fortunately, treatment is straightforward once it’s identified. A prescription antibiotic—most commonly Bactrim DS—is generally effective at clearing the infection.
So what’s the takeaway?
Wash your produce thoroughly. Consider buying whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-packaged salad mixes. Pay attention to food recalls. And if you’ve been sprinting to the bathroom for days while convincing yourself it’s “just something I ate,” it may be time to call your doctor instead of buying another bottle of antacids.
Kansas has weathered tornadoes, droughts, ice storms, and enough potholes to qualify as geological formations.
Let’s try not to add parasite roulette to the list.
