Brief description of the situation
A large outbreak of cyclosporiasis occurred in several states, at least four states in the Midwest. Public health officials are interviewing people linked to this outbreak to find out what food they ate before they became ill. The specific food product has not yet been confirmed as the source. Investigators are gathering as much information as possible to solve this outbreak.
Important update
The CDC is concerned about the increase in cases since early May. The CDC and state and federal partners are also investigating. several additional clusters cyclosporiasis in the United States. Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening, but some people may become seriously ill and require hospitalization. If you have symptoms of cyclosporiasis, contact your doctor immediately.
Investigation details
The CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting various types of data to investigate the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis.
Epidemiological data
As of July 13, more than 400 people have become infected. Cyclospora have been reported to the CDC from 4 states in connection with this multi-state outbreak: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. CDC is aware of additional cases that are still under investigation. Sick people reported symptoms on or after June 22, 2026.
The true number of sick people in this multistate outbreak is likely higher than the reported number, and the outbreak may not be limited to states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora. Additionally, recent illnesses may not be reported yet because it may take several weeks to determine whether an ill person is part of the outbreak.
Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographic information, and what foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues that will help investigators determine the source of the outbreak.
What should you do
Call your doctor if you have symptoms cyclosporiasis
- Contact your doctor if you develop watery diarrhea, especially if it lasts more than a few days, or if you experience fatigue or loss of appetite.
- You may need to request special testing for Cyclospora. Routine stool tests do not always detect this parasite.
- Symptoms usually appear about a week after infection (2 days to 2 weeks or more).
- Without treatment, symptoms can last from a few days to a month or longer.
- If you have symptoms, drink enough fluids.
Provide information that will help us identify contaminated food.
- If you have cyclosporiasis, local or state health officials may contact you to find out what you ate in the two weeks before you became ill.
Take steps to reduce your risk of getting sick Cyclospora
- Wash your hands and fresh food thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or preparing.
- Cooking kills the parasite. Prepare food thoroughly.
- Find out which foods are most likely to contain the parasite Cyclospora and ways to prevent cyclosporiasis infection.
- Stay informed about food recalls and disease outbreaks.
What healthcare workers can do
- Report cases of cyclosporiasis to your local health department.
- For more information about the clinical features of cyclosporiasis and patient management, see Clinical Management of Cyclosporiasis.