What is cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea?

According to The Guardian, a parasitic illness called cyclosporiasis is behind an unusual wave of severe, watery diarrhea across several US states. The worst outbreak is in Michigan, where health officials have logged nearly one thousand cases — the largest in the state's history, and a startling jump for a place that typically sees only about fifty cases a year. Ohio has reported a sharp rise as well, with one hundred seventy-seven cases as of July second. The CDC says the illness is rarely life-threatening, but warns it can still cause severe effects.

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