Mystery parasite leaves Americans battling ‘explosive diarrhea’ as CDC investigates

Federal health officials are attempting to track down the source of a microscopic parasite that triggers prolonged gastrointestinal illness, as domestic cases begin to climb for the summer season. As of mid-June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed 145 cases of cyclosporiasis across 17 states as of mid-June 2026, all linked to infections acquired in the U.S. The culprit is Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite known to cause cyclosporiasis. DEADLY ‘FOX TAPEWORM’ LINKED TO L