Cases of ‘explosive-diarrhea’ parasite triple in Colorado

Just when you thought it might be safe to put lettuce back on your Taco Bell taco…

Cases of cyclosporiasis — a microscopic parasite that causes what health officials have clinically described as “explosive” diarrhea — have nearly tripled in Colorado over the past month, with 241 cases reported since January, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The spike comes amid heightened national attention after Michigan reported the first two U.S. deaths linked to the parasite, and the CDC has tallied more than 1,600 confirmed cases across 18 states.

Before you swear off every salad bar in the Front Range, though, the state says most of the Colorado cases didn’t start here. Of the completed investigations, 74 percent of those infected reported recent international travel, and only 45 cases were acquired domestically. “The case count alone does not indicate that an outbreak is occurring in Colorado,” CDPHE spokesperson Kayla Glad said, adding that greater awareness from outbreaks elsewhere may be driving more people to get tested.

Still, if you needed one more reason to wash your produce like your weekend plans depend on it — they very well might — consider this your public service announcement. Cyclospora spreads through contaminated food and water, and the symptoms are exactly as fun as they sound.