Health
Doctors warn your ‘stomach bug’ may actually be a parasite that’s harder to detect
CDC official outlines severity of cyclosporiasis as cases surges across US
Cases of Cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic illness, are skyrocketing across 34 states, with nearly 7,000 confirmed or under investigation cases. CDC Deputy Director Gwen Biggerstaff highlights that symptoms like diarrhea and cramping can be severe, urging affected individuals to consult doctors about specific antibiotic treatments. The CDC anticipates identifying the outbreak’s source soon.
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Health officials are warning that what many people dismiss as a routine summer stomach bug may actually be cyclosporiasis, as the U.S. experiences one of its largest foodborne parasite outbreaks on record.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,600 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May, with over 5,100 additional cases currently under investigation.
The intestinal infection is caused by Cyclospora (Cyclospora cayetanensis), a microscopic parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water.
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The outbreak has sickened thousands of people, particularly in Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio, causing prolonged bouts of severe gastrointestinal illness.
Symptoms usually begin about one week after consuming contaminated food or water, although the incubation period can range from about two days to two weeks, according to the CDC.
Patients should seek diagnostic testing through their primary care physician, saving the emergency department for the treatment of severe dehydration. (iStock)
Early symptoms can overlap with those of a common viral stomach bug, including abdominal pain, nausea and watery diarrhea. Some patients also experience loss of appetite, fatigue and weight loss.
The primary differences lie in how long the illness lasts and how severe the symptoms become, according to Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina.
HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS STOMACH BUG SPREADS FAST, HITTING CERTAIN PATIENTS HARDEST
Routine stomach bugs are typically short-lived, resolving within 24 to 48 hours, the doctor said. Even if mild symptoms linger, patients generally feel better after two days.
“Cyclospora is different in this regard,” Perry told Fox News Digital. “It lasts longer, with far more profound watery, foul-smelling diarrhea and abdominal cramping.”
A massive surge in Cyclospora cases means people may be mistaking this parasitic foodborne infection for a standard summer stomach bug. (iStock)
It is possible to test for Cyclospora, but healthcare providers must specifically request it, as the parasite is not routinely included in standard stool testing and many gastrointestinal PCR panels do not detect it, according to the CDC.
Diagnosis is made by examining stool specimens, although patients may need to submit several samples collected on different days, as even symptomatic people may not shed enough of the parasite for it to be readily detected, per the above source.
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If symptoms strongly suggest Cyclospora despite an initial negative test, the screening may need to be repeated, Perry noted.
A primary care physician is often the best point of contact for patients seeking a diagnosis, as most routine stool tests performed in emergency departments do not screen for Cyclospora. A family doctor can order the specialized test if it’s suspected.
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“The emergency department is the appropriate setting for treating downstream symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea and dehydration,” Perry told Fox News Digital.
People who suspect they have contracted the parasite can also check FDA and CDC food safety alerts to see whether they may have been exposed to a recalled or implicated product.
While routine stomach viruses usually resolve within 48 hours, Cyclospora infections linger much longer with severe, watery and foul-smelling diarrhea. (iStock)
Patients should also focus on staying hydrated by monitoring their urine output. Perry recommends using over-the-counter pediatric formulas, which offer a more effective salt-to-sugar ratio than commercial sports drinks.
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Anyone whose diarrhea lasts more than two to three days, worsens or is accompanied by signs of dehydration should contact a primary care physician.
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Unlike most viral stomach bugs, Cyclospora is treatable with prescription antibiotics. The CDC recommends trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) as the standard treatment, while people who cannot take sulfa drugs should discuss alternatives with their healthcare provider.
Health
Biden’s battle with advancing cancer renews focus on prostate disease
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Former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread further since his diagnosis last year, his son Hunter Biden revealed in a BBC interview that aired Friday.
“The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further,” Hunter Biden told BBC Newsnight, describing his father’s condition as “very painful” and “very debilitating in many respects.”
“It’s really sad to watch,” the younger Biden went on. “The only thing that I’d say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good.”
JOE BIDEN’S CANCER HAS SPREAD FURTHER, LEAVING HIM IN ‘VERY PAINFUL’ CONDITION, HUNTER REVEALS
Biden, 83, announced his diagnosis in May 2025, after news that a “small nodule” had been found in the former president’s prostate during a routine exam.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” his office said at the time. “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
Former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread further since his diagnosis last year, his son Hunter Biden revealed. (Getty Images)
Biden later underwent hormone therapy and radiation treatment, completing a course of radiation at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia in October 2025, according to the former president’s spokesperson.
In addition to hormone therapy, common treatment options for prostate cancer include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiopharmaceutical treatments.
Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office for comment.
What to know about prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a disease found in men that develops in the prostate gland. Cases have been on the rise in recent years, with overall incidence increasing about 3% annually from 2014 through 2021, according to the American Cancer Society.
Rates of advanced-stage prostate cancer rose about 5% per year during that period.
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About 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2026, and about 36,320 men are expected to die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, the same source stated.
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Older men are at a higher risk of the disease, with six in 10 cases diagnosed in patients 65 and older. The average age at diagnosis is 67, with men under 40 rarely affected.
Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men, behind only skin cancer, the ACS noted.
Signs and symptoms
Among men who undergo routine prostate cancer screening, the disease is usually caught early before symptoms emerge, per the ACS.
Typical early symptoms include problems urinating, a weak or slow urinary stream or an increased need to urinate. Some men may also notice blood in the urine or bodily fluids.
Biden, 83, announced his diagnosis in May 2025, after news that a “small nodule” had been found in the former president’s prostate during a routine exam. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
More advanced symptoms may occur after the disease has spread. Those may include pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs) or other areas, the ACS stated.
Men may also suffer from erectile dysfunction, weight loss, extreme fatigue, weakness in the legs or feet, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Screening recommendations
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force states that men aged 55 to 69 years should have the option to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening to monitor for prostate cancer.
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“Before deciding whether to be screened, men should have an opportunity to discuss the potential benefits and harms of screening with their clinician and to incorporate their values and preferences in the decision,” the USPSTF states.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force states that men aged 55 to 69 years should have the option to undergo periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening to monitor for prostate cancer. (iStock)
While screening offers a “small potential benefit” of reducing the chances of dying from the disease, the agency noted that some men may experience negative effects, including false-positive results, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and treatment complications.
Alternative prostate cancer screening methods are currently being researched, including one that uses a non-invasive urine test, as Fox News Digital recently reported.
Survival rates
For localized prostate cancers, where the disease is contained within the prostate, the five-year survival rate is at least 99%, according to the ACS.
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For regional cases, where the disease has spread only to “nearby structures or lymph nodes,” the five-year survival rate is also 99% or greater.
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If the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, the five-year survival rate drops to 37%.
Actual survival rates may vary based on the patient’s age, overall health, how the cancer has progressed post-diagnosis, the disease’s response to treatment, and other factors, the ACS noted.
Health
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Health
Common marriage habit could quietly kill your sex life, expert warns
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Sexual desire can change over the course of a marriage, particularly with age and major life changes. And research suggests certain lifestyle and relationship factors may also contribute to a lower libido.
But changes in desire or frequency do not necessarily mean a couple’s sex life is unhealthy, according to experts.
Dr. Anna Elton, a licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist in Massachusetts, said there is “no medically prescribed number that defines a healthy sex life.”
HOW OFTEN ARE MARRIED PEOPLE HAVING SEX? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE INTIMACY STANDARD IN AMERICA
“What’s healthy is whether both partners feel connected, satisfied and respected in their intimate relationship,” she told Fox News Digital.
“For some couples, that may mean several times a week, while for others it may be once or twice a month. The healthiest benchmark is mutual fulfillment.”
There is no set benchmark for how often married couples should have sex, as long as both partners feel fulfilled, an expert said. (iStock)
Rather than comparing their sex lives to those of others, Elton encouraged couples to define what is healthy for their own relationship.
“Talk about what feels satisfying, how much time can pass before one or both of you starts feeling disconnected and what your warning signs are,” she said. “Once you’ve agreed on that range, make a commitment to maintain it together.”
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Elton advised couples not to let too much time pass without “intentionally reconnecting” because prolonged disconnection can take a toll on the relationship.
“If we simply wait until the mood is perfect or the stars align, work, children and everyday responsibilities usually get in the way,” she said. “Healthy relationships require intention. Both partners should share responsibility for initiating connection and creating the conditions where desire can develop.”
The expert advised couples not to let too much time pass without “intentionally reconnecting” because prolonged disconnection can take a toll on the relationship. (iStock)
For many couples, building careers, raising children, caring for aging parents, managing finances and juggling other responsibilities can demand more of their attention, and they may not realize that the relationship itself has become a low priority.
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“As a result, couples begin living parallel lives,” Elton told Fox News Digital. “Conversations revolve around schedules, errands, bills and the kids. Intentional time together becomes less frequent. Affection, physical touch, flirting and playfulness become less frequent, replaced by stress, conflict and growing resentment.
“For many couples, those changes are among the earliest signs that the relationship is no longer being intentionally nurtured, and sexual intimacy declines soon afterward.”
Less affection, physical touch, flirting and playfulness is an early sign that the relationship could be in danger. (iStock)
Elton countered that many couples she’s worked with continued to have sex regularly to “keep the peace or avoid conflict.” While their sex life appeared healthy from the outside, the couples felt “emotionally disconnected and unfulfilled.”
“Physical intimacy and emotional closeness go hand in hand,” she said. “If we want to improve our sex lives, we have to focus on the connection itself.”
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“If one or both partners consistently feel rejected, lonely or resentful or avoid conversations about intimacy altogether, it’s time to seek help.”
If sex becomes painful or erectile difficulties arise or if hormonal concerns, trauma, depression, anxiety or persistent differences in desire are creating distress, couples should address these issues with a professional as early as possible, the expert advised.
If sex becomes painful or erectile difficulties arise – or if hormonal concerns, trauma, depression, anxiety or persistent differences in desire are creating distress – couples should address these issues with a professional as early as possible, the expert advised. (iStock)
One of the most common concerns Elton sees in her practice is differences in sexual desire, which she confirmed is “completely normal.”
The key is to approach intimacy “as a team” because research has shown this leads to maintaining “stronger desire” over time.
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“Being responsive means staying curious about your partner’s experience,” she said. “Instead of pressuring or withdrawing, couples communicate openly, respect each other’s boundaries and work together to find an approach to intimacy that feels satisfying for both people.”
Couples should also broaden their definition of intimacy, Elton suggested, as general affection, physical touch, flirting, emotional closeness and intentional time together can “help partners feel more connected and create the conditions where sexual desire naturally returns.”
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