Texas Health Officials Investigating Stomach Illness Cases

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas health officials are investigating an outbreak of a stomach illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with feces.The Austin American-Statesman (http://atxne.ws/1fAvYPy ) reports that the Texas Department of State Health Services alerted health care providers this week to be on the lookout for cyclospora. The state's count is at 54 cases.

Travis County has the highest number of cases in the state, at 23.

The alert says reports of the illness have been high in Texas each of the past three summers. But state health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams says a surge like the one over the last week is unusual.

Williams says there are no known hospitalizations or deaths related to the illness.

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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com

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