Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Spreads to 32 States, Nearly 3,000 Cases Reported

Jul 7, 2026

A major cyclosporiasis outbreak has sickened nearly 3,000 people across 32 U.S. states, with Michigan and Ohio emerging as the hardest-hit areas. The parasitic infection, which causes severe and prolonged watery diarrhea, is linked to contaminated fresh produce, though investigators have not yet identified a specific grower or food source. The surge has led to at least 86 hospitalizations nationwide. Health officials are urging thorough food hygiene, noting that only cooking can fully destroy the parasite.

Cyclosporiasis surge across U.S. states

▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 843 cyclosporiasis cases acquired within the United States and is investigating more than 1,500 additional cases.
▪An ABC News tally of state health department data indicates that at least 2,844 to 2,912 cyclosporiasis cases have been reported across 32 U.S. states as of July 10, 2026.
▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that 86 people have been hospitalized with cyclosporiasis across 31 states as of July 10, 2026.

Contaminated produce investigation

▪Investigating cyclosporiasis outbreaks is challenging because symptoms can take one to two weeks to appear, making it difficult for patients to recall what they ate.
▪Public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, have not identified a single, common food, grower, or supplier driving the multi-state cyclosporiasis surge.
▪The primary hypothesis among health officials is that contaminated fresh produce is driving the multi-state cyclosporiasis surge.

Cyclospora parasite transmission

▪The Cyclospora parasite does not spread directly from person to person because the shed parasite requires days or weeks in the environment to mature and become infectious.
▪The Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite spreads through the fecal-oral route via food or water contaminated with feces from an infected person.

Cyclosporiasis symptoms

▪Cyclosporiasis is treated with a 10-day course of the oral antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, commonly known as Bactrim.
▪The most common symptom of cyclosporiasis is sudden, watery, and frequent diarrhea that can last for several weeks or months and may relapse.
▪Additional symptoms of cyclosporiasis include severe stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, and body aches.

State health department responses

▪Michigan has reported 1,562 cases of cyclosporiasis as of July 10, 2026, which is over 30 times higher than the state's annual average of 40 to 50 cases.
▪New York has recorded 394 cyclosporiasis cases since May 1, 2026, which state health officials describe as within the normal range for this time of year.
▪In July 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made tracking cyclospora optional by scaling back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network.
▪Ohio has reported at least 177 cyclosporiasis cases as of July 2, 2026, with the Toledo-Lucas Health Department reporting an additional 306 cases.

Food safety prevention measures

▪Cooking food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit is the only guaranteed method to destroy the Cyclospora parasite on produce.
▪Health officials recommend washing hands with soap and water, thoroughly rinsing produce under running water, and refrigerating cut produce within two hours to reduce infection risk.