Surge in Cyclospora Infections Reported
NEW YORK — Infections caused by the parasitic organism cyclospora are on the rise, and it appears that 2026 may be shaping up to be the worst year in the U.S. for reported cases.
Over 30 states have reported infections this year, with current statistics indicating that the total has already exceeded the previous record of about 4,700 cases set in 2019. While the illness is not typically life-threatening, it is usually treated effectively with antibiotics.
Health officials are still investigating the root cause of these infections. Recent statements from federal health authorities suggest that infection patterns might vary by region, but they suspect that cases in states like Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia may be interconnected.
Michigan’s Suspicions on Lettuce
In Michigan, more than 3,300 cases have been confirmed, and officials are leaning towards lettuce or salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak.
According to Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive of the Michigan health department, early findings from over 1,000 patient interviews frequently point to lettuce as a common item in reports.
In light of this, Michigan officials have recommended that consumers buy whole heads of lettuce, remove the outer leaves, and wash the remaining leaves thoroughly. They specifically advised against purchasing bagged lettuce and pre-packaged salad mixes.
Taco Bell has announced that they have temporarily removed certain ingredients from select locations as a precaution and are monitoring the situation as it unfolds.
During a press call, federal health officials were asked about specific vendors, including Taco Bell, but did not provide a direct answer. They mentioned that the FDA is actively tracking multiple produce items and investigating locations reported by individuals who fell ill.
Impact of Cyclospora
Cyclospora is a tiny parasite known for causing watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes intense bowel movements, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Outbreaks generally occur in late spring and summer months.
This parasite thrives in warm conditions, infecting the intestines and spreading through fecal contamination. Past infections have often been linked to the consumption of fruits and vegetables irrigated with contaminated water.
Cyclospora infections are less frequent than those caused by other pathogens like salmonella or E. coli. Many cases go untracked as they often aren’t connected to a specific food source. Interestingly, while cyclospora outbreaks were rare in previous years, they began to increase significantly about a decade ago, notably in 2018 and 2019.
Some experts believe many cases went unnoticed in the past because standard testing methods for foodborne illnesses often miss this particular parasite. They suggest that climate change and improved testing may be contributing to the growing trend in reported cases.
Historical Context of Infections
The year 2019 marked the peak for U.S. cyclospora infections, with around 4,700 cases reported. While the CDC compiles these figures, their numbers typically lag behind state and local health reports. Recently, the CDC reported 1,645 confirmed cases since May 1, along with over 5,100 cases pending further investigation. The data examined comes from 34 states, and as of now, there have been no reported deaths.
It’s worth noting that the actual number of cases may be higher, as some individuals might not seek medical attention for milder symptoms, according to Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC’s foodborne disease division.
Symptoms from cyclospora exposure can take days to weeks to manifest. It’s uncertain how many individuals are currently falling ill or if many infections occurred earlier. Biggerstaff mentioned that they expect case numbers to continue rising through August.
The CDC has also provided information about the ongoing investigation into the outbreak affecting the states mentioned earlier. Though officials haven’t specified case counts per state, Michigan has reported over 3,300 infections, Ohio has seen more than 1,100, New York City has tallied more than 400, and Illinois has noted over 200. Notably, not all cases can be traced back to a single source; for instance, many infected individuals in Illinois reported having traveled abroad, indicating possible exposure elsewhere.
Nonetheless, Michigan authorities suspect a significant proportion of their cases may be related to a specific domestic outbreak. The CDC didn’t elaborate on why they believe the infections in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia are connected.
