Salad Mix May Be To Blame For Multi-State Stomach Bug Outbreak

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A pre-packaged salad mix may be to blame for a stomach bug that has sickened people in 15 states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Health officials have not named the brand involved, but they said the microscopic cyclospora parasite contaminated a mix of iceberg and romaine lettuce, 1010 WINS reported.

Cyclospora infections are often found in tropical or subtropical countries and have been linked to imported fresh produce in the past. They cause diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the infection had been reported in Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey and Ohio. Most of the illnesses occurred from mid-June to early July.

As of this past Friday, the total number of cases had reached 353.

The illness is spread when people ingest foods or water contaminated with feces.

Some health officials believe the worst of the outbreak is over, and the contaminated vegetables have made their way out of the food supply.

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