The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that it has received 26 reports of illness linked to a relatively uncommon strain of the Salmonella bacteria. The department said Salmonella cases had been confirmed in Allamakee, Black Hawk, Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo, Des Moines, Humboldt, Jasper, Kossuth, Madison, Mahaska, Marshall, Muscatine, Polk, Scott, Sioux, Story, Union, Webster and Woodbury counties.

Iowa already is investigating an outbreak of food poisoning caused by a rare parasite, Cyclospora, which has sickened at least 138 Iowans in recent weeks.

Also today, the department notified health officials statewide to be on the lookout for Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite that also can cause diarrhea. The department said it has recently been notified of 76 confirmed cases of Cryptosporidium infections. The parasite can be spread from person to person, through contaminated food or through recreational water, such as swimming pools.