At least 843 Americans have been diagnosed with cases of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease that causes severe diarrhea, since the beginning of May.The illness has been reported in 31 states and has hospitalized 86 people as of Thursday, July 9, according to statistics reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another 1,500 instances could possibly be cyclosporiasis but require further analysis, as the CDC said the “true number” of cases is likely higher than the reported number.Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection that is often contracted by drinking food or water contaminated with human feces infected by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. Cases of the infection rise during the summer months, with the typical season ranging from May through August.
The symptoms of the disease include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, nausea, and fatigue. Outbreaks in the past have been tied to imported produce such as raspberries, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, snow peas, and basil, according to the CDC.The current rise in cases has affected states such as Michigan and New York the most, with the number of CDC-confirmed cases ranging from 161 to 300 and from 81 to 160, respectively. Michigan’s reported case count varies drastically from the CDC’s. The state’s health department reported 1,562 cases as of Friday, July 10, more than 1,000 more than the CDC.The CDC announced that many areas across the country have reported a year-to-date increase in cyclosporiasis cases in the past two weeks compared to their 2025 numbers and noted that state agencies would have the most up-to-date data, given the CDC’s own assumed six-week lag between its reporting and illness onset.“CDC teams are working diligently to collect, analyze, and provide data at the national level. State health departments may have more timely information about the situation in their jurisdictions,” the agency wrote in a surveillance update on the outbreak.The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has not linked its outbreak to any specific produce or supplier and has recommended Michiganders take precautionary steps by cooking their food when they can and washing all produce before consumption. Cooking food at 158°F kills off any cyclosporiasis bacteria, according to the agency.LINDSEY GRAHAM’S RISK OF HEART ATTACK HEIGHTENED BY FAMILY HISTORYOther states seeing increased numbers of cyclosporiasis include New Jersey, North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, and Texas.No deaths from cyclosporiasis have been reported in the United States this season.
