US cyclospora parasite outbreak spreads to 34 states, CDC says

- **Section:** health - **Date:** 2026-07-16 - **Source:** BBC News — "What to know about cyclospora 'explosive diarrhea' parasite outbreak in US" (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o), reporting figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US state health departments. - **Status:** DRAFT Nearly 7,000 people in the United States may have been infected with a diarrhoea-causing parasite, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said, with cases now confirmed or under investigation across 34 states [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. The CDC said on Tuesday that 1,645 people nationwide had been confirmed with cyclosporiasis, with another 5,100 cases under investigation; 141 patients had been hospitalised and no deaths had been reported [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. The agency said it anticipates case counts will continue to rise as new data arrives [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Michigan is the hardest-hit state, with 3,762 reported cases across the state as of 15 July, according to the state's health department [BBC, citing Michigan Department of Health: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Other states reporting large numbers include New York (517 cases, more than half in New York City), Ohio (438 between 1 May and 15 July), North Carolina (307 from 1 May to 14 July, 13 hospitalisations) and Illinois (216 confirmed and probable cases as of 15 July, including 18 hospitalisations) [BBC, citing respective state health departments: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Indiana, Texas and New Jersey also have significant case counts, according to the CDC [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite, according to the CDC [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. People become infected by consuming food or water containing the parasite [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. The illness is not usually life-threatening and is less common than other foodborne illnesses such as salmonella and E. coli [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Symptoms can include diarrhoea "with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements," and if untreated the illness may last from a few days to more than a month, with symptoms that can return [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. It typically takes about one week after infection to become sick [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Person-to-person transmission does not occur, according to Dr Caitlin Rivers of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who wrote in an 8 July newsletter that transmission is exclusively faecal-oral via ingestion of contaminated food or water [BBC, citing Dr Caitlin Rivers: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Past cyclospora outbreaks in the US and Canada have been linked to bagged salad mixes and kits, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions [BBC, citing CDC and Dr Rivers: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. The CDC said those infected "became sick after eating food in the United States" and had not reported travel in the 14 days before falling ill; no specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified as the source [BBC, citing CDC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. Contamination "typically occurs at the farm or irrigation level, making traceback investigations difficult," Dr Rivers wrote [BBC, citing Dr Caitlin Rivers: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. The fast-food chain Taco Bell said it was "voluntarily and temporarily removing limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure," though public health officials have not confirmed any link to a specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer, and the company said it would monitor the situation and follow authorities' guidance [BBC, citing Taco Bell: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. The US Food and Drug Administration says rinsing produce is unlikely to be effective, while the CDC still recommends it; Michigan's health department has advised kitchens preparing raw produce to wash greens thoroughly, cook raspberries and leafy greens where possible, and remove outer layers of lettuce and green onions [BBC, citing FDA, CDC and Michigan Department of Health: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. People experiencing diarrhoea are urged to contact a health provider and ask about possible infection [BBC, citing officials: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c621m66qm76o]. **Correction line:** No corrections have been issued for this draft. All figures are attributed to the CDC and US state health departments as reported by BBC News; this draft is pending editorial fact-check and sign-off before any publication.