You think you have a simple stomach bug, but doctors say a rare parasite is spreading fast

More than 1,600 people have caught the parasite since May, and officials are looking into 5,100 more possible cases.

The Lede

A simple summer day can turn into weeks of pain when a tiny bug hides in your food. Many people think they just have a 24-hour virus, but they are actually fighting a tough parasite.

What Happened

Health officials are warning about a big outbreak of a tiny bug. It is a parasite called Cyclospora. Since May, 1,600 people in the U.S. have caught it.

Another 5,100 sick people are being checked. The bug spreads through dirty food or water. It has hit people hard in Ohio and Michigan.

This bug is not like a normal stomach flu. A regular virus goes away in one or two days. This parasite causes bad cramps and watery diarrhea that lasts for weeks.

Fact Box

• 1,600 confirmed cases in the U.S. since May.
• 5,100 more cases are being tracked.
• Symptoms can take 2 to 14 days to show up.
• Standard ER tests do not check for this parasite.
• Ohio and Michigan are among the hardest-hit states.

Why It Matters

This matters because regular tests do not look for this bug. If you go to the emergency room, they might miss it.

You must ask your regular family doctor for a special test. If you do not get the right test, you will not get the special drugs you need to get well.

What Happens Next

Doctors say to watch how often you go to the bathroom. Drink fluids to stay safe.

Mixes made for kids work better than sports drinks. They have a better mix of salt and sugar.

Food safety groups will keep looking for the source of the bad food. They will put alerts online when they find out which foods are safe.

What We Still Don't Know

• What exact foods are carrying this tiny bug?
• How many sick people are staying home without a test?
• When will this outbreak come to an end?