‘Worst 14 days’: Saba Azad hospitalised with Cyclospora cayetanensis infection, loses 4 kg

Actor Saba Azad has revealed that she was recently hospitalised after being diagnosed with a parasitic infection caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis. Sharing her experience on Instagram, she described the past two weeks as the “worst 14 days” of her life and spoke about the sudden impact on her health.

Posting a picture from her hospital bed, Saba appeared visibly weak but managed a peace sign for the camera. In her caption, she wrote, “Worst 14 days of my life. Cyclospora cayetanensis you nasty piece of work!! For somone who only ever eats home food, carries her water bottle everywhere, this bug came outa nowhere, that too at the busiest time of the year for me.” She further added, “Iv lost 4 kgs that I didn’t have spare in two weeks and I can barely walk.”

The actor also highlighted how the illness disrupted her routine. “One day im training twice a day, doing pull-ups, lifting heavy and the next im half my size, without strength to lift a goddamn toothpick leave alone weights,” she wrote. Urging caution, she added, “So pls for the love of your gut wash your salad leaves and veg like your life depends on it - cause sometimes it really does!! Our new method is Baking soda + veggie wash (Herbal Strategi has a good one).”

Saba also mentioned that actor Hrithik Roshan has been supporting her through the illness. “(camera emoji) by @hrithikroshan who’s kept my very grumpy sprits up and always manages to find humour in the darnest situations,” she shared. She clarified, “PS - I haven’t shrunk quite as much as it may seem here, the bed is supersized and the angle is wide.”

For the unversed, Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite that can infect the small intestine and is often linked to contaminated food or water. Symptoms typically include weakness, weight loss, and digestive issues.

Hrithik and Saba have been in a relationship since 2022 and are often seen together at public events. Hrithik was earlier married to Sussanne Khan, with whom he shares two sons. Professionally, he is set to direct Krrish 4 and is also working on a web series titled Storm.