Nearly 3,000 people have been diagnosed as of Friday – and at least 86 people have been hospitalized – with a gastrointestinal foodborne illness cyclosporiasis, an infection marked by intense diarrhea.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that cases have taken place in 31 states and the source of the illnesses is not clear. The federal agency also said it was not clear whether the outbreaks in different states are connected.

Cases have been particularly high in Michigan, which as of Friday had 1,562 cases and 44 hospitalizations.

Illnesses have also been reported in Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin among other states.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive of Michigan, said the state’s infection rate is high this year and that Michigan typically has 40 to 50 cases of cyclosporiasis annually, according to NBC News.

The CDC said the cause of the illness is a microscopic parasite called cyclospora, which is found on fresh produce. People normally begin feeling sick with flu-like symptoms a week after the encounter with the virus and patients also experience diarrhea that can be uncontrollable.

Patients that are hospitalized with the illness are usually severely dehydrated, and the illness can be treated with the antibiotic Bactrim. Left untreated, symptoms can linger for weeks.

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