Dr. Drew on Diarrhea Outbreak: Don't Panic

Physician and TV host Dr. Drew is urging the public not to panic over the cyclosporiasis outbreak, which investigators are looking into for possible links to Taco Bell. In his view, the scale of the problem is being blown out of proportion.

Asked by reporters in Los Angeles about the surge in intestinal infections, Dr. Drew said the numbers he has seen are not alarming. He advised people to stay calm and not give in to the hysteria surrounding the topic.

However, he noted that the truly concerning aspect is that the source of contamination has not yet been identified. This uncertainty makes it harder to effectively combat the spread of the disease.

Dr. Drew considers the market reaction a bigger issue: fast-food chains are pulling lettuce from their menus, and shoppers are avoiding buying greens at stores. This could hurt farmers and producers, even though the outbreak may already be subsiding.

The doctor reminded that contaminated produce cannot be simply washed off—it needs to be cooked to kill the pathogen. If you're worried about infection, better to cook your vegetables, like stewing spinach, just like Popeye did.

Experts note that cyclosporiasis usually resolves on its own, but it can cause serious complications in people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramps, and nausea that may last for weeks.