India, April 2 -- Actor Saba Azad recently opened up about a severe bout of illness, revealing she was diagnosed with a parasitic infection caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis which she suspects was contracted due to consumtion raw veggies. The infection left her hospitalised and resulted in a rapid 4 kilos weight loss in just two weeks. This incident sparked a wider conversation about the safety of everyday produce. According to a 2025 study titled 'Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in diarrheal patients in eastern region of India', Cyclospora cayetanensis accounts for roughly 2.11% of diarrhoeal cases in India, with numbers rising sharply in dense urban pockets, affecting those with weaker immunity. Cases also tend to spike during the monsoon months. Explaining how the infection works, Dr Amit Rastogi, chairman, Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery at PSRI Hospital, says, "Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite that can cause an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis. It usually spreads through contaminated food or water, especially raw fruits and vegetables that are not washed properly. When a person eats or drinks something contaminated, the parasite enters the digestive system and infects the small intestine, leading to irritation and inflammation." Common symptoms include: watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and mild fever. "Some people also experience weight loss if the infection continues for several days," he says, adding that symptoms usually appear about one week after consuming contaminated food or water. However, in some cases, it can take anywhere between two days to two weeks for symptoms to show up. On the nature of the infection, Dr Kiran D Shinde from Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, informs, "It does not spread directly from person to person. The parasite needs time in the environment to become infectious. This is why the main routes of transmission are contaminated food and water. The risk tends to be higher in hot and humid climates, where these conditions allow the parasite to survive and enter the body." Nutritionist Sukh Sabia emphasised that everyday kitchen habits can significantly reduce risks:...