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Food-Borne Intestinal Illnesses Continue to Climb in Nebraska and Iowa

iowa-dept-of-public-health(AP) — The number of people reporting a food-borne intestinal illness believed to have come from a contaminated vegetable is now at 134 in Iowa and Nebraska as new cases continue to surface.

Iowa has reported 81 cases of cyclosporiasis (sy-kloh-spor-EYE’-uh-sis) spread across 25 counties. The Iowa Department of Public Health says at least five people have been hospitalized.

Linn County in eastern Iowa continues to lead the state with 31 cases. Polk County and Pottawattamie County each have five.

Nebraska has reported 53 cases mostly in the eastern part of the state. Three people were hospitalized but released.

Public health officials from both states say the illness, which causes prolonged diarrhea, is rare. It comes from eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces containing the cyclospora parasite.

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