Four states linked to cyclosporiasis outbreak, CDC warns more could be involved

Healthcare Four states linked to cyclosporiasis outbreak, CDC warns more could be involved Comments: by Addy Bink - 07/15/26 12:43 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Addy Bink - 07/15/26 12:43 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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(NEXSTAR) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now confirmed the presence of a multistate outbreak of the parasite-based sickness cyclosporiasis impacting “at least four midwestern states.”

Since confirming it was investigating a spike in cases of the condition, which can cause “explosive” diarrhea, the CDC has said there was “no evidence of a single, multistate” outbreak. On Tuesday, the CDC acknowledged that hundreds of cases appear to be linked to the same common source that’s spreading the cyclospora parasite.

However, that exact source has not yet been confirmed, Gwen Biggerstaff, the deputy director of the CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, said during a call with reporters on Tuesday.

Investigations into cyclospora “take a significant amount of time,” Biggerstaff said, because it can take anywhere from two days to two weeks for people to begin experiencing symptoms. It’s also difficult to track.

Whole genome sequencing, or the process of analyzing an organism’s DNA, isn’t available for cyclospora, preventing investigators from connecting the outbreak to a specific product. Instead, Biggerstaff explained, they have to use targeted genotyping, “which is useful for detection but not as fast and precise as whole genome sequencing.”

“This is why cyclosporiasis investigations generally take longer to link cases to each other and identify a potential source,” Biggerstaff said. “And in some cases, a specific source may never be identified.”

Despite this, health officials in Michigan, which has reported more than 3,700 cases of the parasite-linked illness, believe lettuce or salad greens may be to blame. Dr. Donald Prater, the FDA’s Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food, said they are continuing to investigate “multiple produce items, including lettuce.”

Michigan is one of four states in which the CDC has confirmed a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Nearby Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky are also in that group.

While the CDC has linked more than 400 cases of cyclosporiasis to the outbreak, the agency acknowledged the true number of cases is likely higher and may impact more states.

Not everyone who becomes ill has symptoms, and among those who do, not all will require hospitalization or seek out testing. Cyclosporiasis is only diagnosed by a stool sample; the CDC on Tuesday urged medical professionals to “specifically request Cyclospora laboratory testing on stool specimens” because a regular examination may not detect the parasite.

In addition to “explosive” diarrhea, symptoms of cyclosporiasis include a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, “bloating, including burping and farting,” low-grade fever, and extreme tiredness.

For some people, illness will “self-resolve after a few days,” Dr. Katie Theoktisto of Baylor Scott & White told Nexstar’s KXAN. If you continue experiencing diarrhea for more than a week or two, she recommends seeking medical care.

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