Bryan, a food broker from Michigan, found himself in an urgent care facility after symptoms of the 'explosive diarrhea parasite,' Cyclospora, hit him hard. He was using the bathroom every 15 to 30 minutes by Saturday.

The spread of this microscopic parasite is a symptom of federal budget cuts and a sobering glimpse into America's handling of health crises. The CDC reports over 5,000 cases since May, with Michigan leading the pack at 2,640 confirmed infections as of Monday. Federal agencies are cautious in their recommendations due to limited data.

The mystery behind Cyclospora's source is deepening. Even with lettuce and other salad greens being flagged as a possible culprit, state health officials have not pinpointed the exact type or origin of the produce involved. The Washington Post reports that Taco Bell has recalled certain ingredients after an outbreak was linked to some of its locations.

Janet Hamilton, from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, explains the complexity: 'Large outbreaks like this take time to solve.' Cyclospora's long incubation period and the short shelf life of fresh produce make investigation challenging. Even when a culprit is identified, testing for Cyclospora is difficult due to its low numbers in food lots.

The CDC has confirmed 1,645 cases as of May 1st, but Bryan’s experience at urgent care highlights the frustration: ‘They couldn’t even keep up with the amount of people,’ he said after being prescribed Bactrim instead of a definitive Cyclospora test.