Monroe County health department reporting cases of cyclosporiasis.

The Monroe County health department is reporting many cases of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal ailment caused by a parasitic infection.  People can become infected with the parasite Cyclospora cayatenensis if they eat food or drink water that contains excrement. Contaminated produce has caused outbreaks in the U.S. in recent years, the health officials said.  Investigators are trying to see if the cases in Monroe County had a common exposure. Health officials said the ailment does not seem to be passed from person to person.  Symptoms include a watery stool, loss of appetite and weight, abdominal cramps and bloating, nausea and a low-grade temperature. Symptoms generally appear two to 14 days following exposure.