The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a significant surge in lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, a diarrhoea-causing intestinal parasite, with the count rising to 1,645 across the United States.

This outbreak, which began on May 1, has now spread to 34 states, resulting in 141 hospitalisations as of July 13, though no deaths have been reported.Cyclosporiasis is contracted through contaminated food or water, typically raw fruits and vegetables.

The CDC warns that there is a six-week delay between illness onset and case reporting, meaning more infections may be identified as data continues to flow.Over 5,100 additional cases are under investigation, with Michigan leading the outbreak at 3,309 confirmed cases.Health officials are tracing contaminated food sources through the supply chain to identify the origin of the outbreak.