B1 – Intermediate
A parasite called Cyclospora is affecting a lot of people’s health in some states in America like Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas. They suffer from some symptoms caused by this nasty microorganism.
Read to learn more about an illness-causing parasite in the US.
A single-celled parasite, know as Cyclospora , has been causing illnesses in several states. The states reporting the highest number of cases are Texas, Nebraska and Iowa.
The disease causes flu-like symptoms such as nausea , fatigue and diarrhea . Cyclospora is normally found in more tropical climates and scientists are not sure why it is in the US.
Health authorities report that a total of 353 patients have been diagnosed with the disease , but that there are probably more cases than that as it is difficult to spot the parasite. Though not life threatening, without treatment the disease can hang around for up to two months. It is easily treated with antibiotics .
The source of the outbreak has yet to be determined , but is believed to be food-borne . Luckily , it does not appear to spread from person to person.
Discussion Questions:
- What is causing the illness to some people in some US states and what are the symptoms?
- What comes to you mind when you hear the word ‘parasite’?
- What do you think of this outbreak?
- Have you ever had a similar problem in your city/country? Talk about it.
- Have you ever been ill because of some bad microorganisms? How can we prevent getting sick due to these microorganisms?
10 replies on “Uncommon Parasite Blamed for Illnesses”
1) The illness is cused by a single-celled parasite known as Cyclospora. The symptoms are similar to the flue symptoms: nausea, fatigue and diarrhea.
2) Some entity that enters to a host body to live there.
3) The oubreak probably is due to contaminated food.
4) Not specifically by a parasite like Cyclospora, but is common to have periodically outbreacks of flu, stomach-ache, etc.
5) Sure, many times. Best practices to avoid getting sick by these micro-organisms is the hygiene.
Welcome to the Phoneenglish blog. May this exercise help you practice your writing.
Take a look at some expressions you can use in this sentence to improve it:
Enjoy writing!
1. What is causing the illness to some people in some US states and what are the symptoms?
The cause still is unknown and symptoms are as nausea , fatigue and diarrhea.
2. What comes to you mind when you hear the word ‘parasite’?
Bacteria or viruses may impact in health status of human beings.
3. What do you think of this outbreak?
It seems symptoms are not too severe, and population impacted are located in tropical areas, therefore the outbreak can be controlled without risk of having multiple cases in the country.
4. Have you ever had a similar problem in your city/country? Talk about it.
In the small village where I leave yes, similar occurrences happened in the past for example months before the pandemia COVID 19 started. The village has a population of 1000 people and sometimes when there is a virus around multiple people is affected with same symptoms.
5. Have you ever been ill because of some bad microorganisms? How can we prevent getting sick due to these microorganisms?
I was infected by COVID19 and followed all safety procedures without further sever effects or symptoms. The only way to prevent such infections are to be more conscious of the daily activities like standard rules on hygiene e.g. clean teeth, wash hands, etc.
It is great that you are trying to be as consistent as you can be when it comes to your writing practice.
Here is a better way to write this response:
Keep it up!
1. What is causing the illness to some people in some US states and what are the symptoms?
A tropical parasite called Cyclospora was detected in some states of USA
2. What comes to you mind when you hear the word ‘parasite’?
Illness and some fear. We need to live in a clean ambient to avoid them
3. What do you think of this outbreak?
In my opinion is strange as it it typical in tropical zones . I could be related to climate change
4.Have you ever had a similar problem in your city/country? Talk about it.
Apart of coronavirus I wachted on Tv some news about Nile and monkey flu.There was some cases but it was controlled and decreasing the incicence
5.Have you ever been ill because of some bad microorganisms? How can we prevent getting sick due to these microorganisms?
Fortunately no. I think we have to clean some foods, keep oour hand clean and be sure that most of the food are in a good way keeping them at the fridge
Welcome back to your writing practice! Strive to practice as regularly as you can.
See how you can write these sentences a bit better:
Strong (re)start! Until your next entry!
What is causing the illness to some people in some US states and what are the symptoms?
MH: Cyclospora is a tropical parasite. The common symptoms are nausea , fatigue and diarrhea.
What comes to you mind when you hear the word ‘parasite’?
MH: I studied microbiology during my degree and I know that the parasite is a life organism and they need other organism for their live. There are microorganisms, worms or bugs which are parasites in animals or in humans
What do you think of this outbreak?
MH: It is possible that one person from tropical area who was the zero patient and now it is very important to stop the otubreak for to avoid more people with this illness.
Have you ever had a similar problem in your city/country? Talk about it.
MH: In the last summer, there was a small outbreak in the South of Spain due to Egyptian mosquito because the climate change. This mosquito cause fever and headache.
Have you ever been ill because of some bad microorganisms? How can we prevent getting sick due to these microorganisms?
MH: When I was a child, I illed with measles or chickenpox. We must vaccinate, use mosquito repellent and to avoid the areas with parasites.
Welcome back to your writing practice! Hope you can keep going at this activity for the rest of the term to continue improving your writing skills.
Here is how this sentence can be revised:
Until your next one!
1. A parasite, know as Cyclospora is causing the illness to some people in some US states. The symptoms are nausea, fatigue and diarrhea.
2. When I hear the word ‘parasite’ I think in a disease. usually a disease in other underdeveloped countries.
3. I think the most important think of this outbreak is where the focus is, how it is spread, how to prevent it and how to treat it.
4. I don’t remember a similar problem in my country.
5. I haven’t been sick with a bad microorganism but I know people that ate something with a bad microorganism and they had diarrhea, dehydration, fever and other symptoms.
Welcome back to your Phone English classes and writing exercise.
Here is a sentence you can revise:
Cheers to a productive term for you! Keep practicing your writing.