Great Barrington — A Great Barrington resident was among 18 confirmed cases of the foodborne parasite cyclospora reported in Massachusetts this year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not linked those cases to the current outbreak of 1,645 cases across the Midwest. The agency is investigating an additional 5,100 illnesses and has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce that Taylor Farms supplied to Taco Bell.

On Tuesday, Dr. Gregory Malanoski, an infectious disease specialist at Berkshire Internists of Berkshire Medical Center, said Berkshire Health Systems was unaware of any cases in the county when asked whether it had logged any cyclospora cases this year.

However, after The Eagle’s initial report on cyclospora was published Tuesday, a Great Barrington resident provided Berkshire Medical Center discharge paperwork showing she had been diagnosed with the parasite. She had spent 10 days hospitalized.

Cyclospora, a foodborne parasite that can cause prolonged illness, has been reported in 18 Massachusetts residents this year, prompting health officials to remind people about safe produce handling.

The Eagle is not identifying the woman, who requested to not be named, because of the sensitive nature of the medical information she shared.

BHS spokesperson Mike Leary said Friday that Malanoski's statement was intended to refer to the number of patients who were hospitalized with cyclospora at the time.

"Dr. Malanoski was referring to the number of inpatients as of that day and not past, as cyclospora is an ailment that occurs regularly in any population on an annual basis," Leary wrote Friday.

The 18 cases reported so far in Massachusetts are considered typical for this time of year, according to the CDC.

The Great Barrington resident was one of 141 people nationwide who have been hospitalized this year with the parasitic illness. She said she experienced a more severe case.

Her symptoms began May 28. After days of diarrhea, stomach problems, appetite changes and fatigue, she contacted her doctor and went to the Fairview Hospital emergency room.

The illness can cause weeks-long diarrhea and can be debilitating, but no one in the U.S. has died from cyclospora this year, and it's not contagious. Other symptoms are bloating, gas, fatigue, low-grade fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

"I was feeling phenomenally horrible," she said.

After a series of tests, she received a positive test for cyclospora and was put on antibiotics, which is how it is normally treated. She was transferred to Berkshire Medical Center, where she was sick for 10 days.

"It was horrible," she said. "It was really horrible."

She said she lost weight, strength and energy, and still has no idea where she got the illness from.

Cases are typically linked to fresh, ready-to-eat produce like bagged salads, pre-cut fruits, berries and fresh herbs. Malanoski said it's important to thoroughly wash produce before eating and wash hands, especially after dealing with raw produce.

After being discharged June 17, she spoke with a state Department of Public Health nurse who asked a variety of questions about her eating habits. The nurse had called several days earlier, but the resident was not well enough to speak.

Because the parasite is transmitted through food, the nurse was conducting a contact tracing interview to help identify what food may have caused the illness and where it came from. The resident said she still does not know the source of her infection.

She described the situation as "incredibly scary."

"I would say that if you're having diarrhea, just go get a stool sample test," she said. "Because that way you know right away. Because that way, if you have something bad, you can take care of it quickly."