See US States With the Most Diarrhea Parasite Cases

A parasitic infection that causes miserable bouts of “explosive” diarrhea is surging across the United States. Meanwhile, public health authorities are racing to identify the source or sources driving the surge. As of July 10, over 3,100 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in 31 states, according to NBC News’ latest tally. Michigan, New York, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina are among the states hit hardest by the parasitic stomach bug, which usually increases during the warmer months in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The infection is caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, which spreads through food and water contaminated with feces from an infected person, also known as the fecal-oral route. In the U.S., it’s commonly linked to fresh fruits and vegetables. When ingested, cyclospora infects the small intestine and leads to watery, uncontrollable diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.