Topeka ? State health officials today said an outbreak of cryptosporidosis in Douglas County has extended to five more counties.

“Some of these cases are connected to the Douglas County outbreak, while others have not yet been linked,” the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a news release.

KDHE planned to release details later this afternoon about cases of crytposporidosis in Shawnee, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.

More than 80 people in Douglas County have been diagnosed with the illness that carries symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramping.

Health officials have been under fire for knowing about crypto cases in late July but not alerting the public for nearly a month.

The illness is spread through oral-fecal contact, including transmission from person-to-person, water and food.