Health officials have not identified the cause of contamination that generally stems from fresh produce. Symptoms often lag after infection, making it difficult to pin down the source. File image used for representational purposes only
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
Americans across dozens of States have fallen victim to a microscopic foodborne parasite that can cause “explosive diarrhea,” U.S. health authorities said.
The midwestern State of Michigan has been at the center of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, with State authorities reporting 1,562 cases as of Friday, July 10, 2026.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of Thursday, July 9, 31 States had reported cases of the gastrointestinal illness, with dozens of hospitalizations but no deaths.
Health officials have not identified the cause of contamination that generally stems from fresh produce. Symptoms often lag after infection, making it difficult to pin down the source.
In the past, foods including bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and scallions have been linked to cyclosporiasis.
Untreated, the illness could last more than a month. It is generally not life-threatening, according to public health authorities, but can cause dehydration.
Officials across the country, including those in Michigan, recommend thoroughly washing produce, or, even better, cooking it, as heat higher than 158F (70C) kills the parasite.
Beyond delayed symptoms that occur after a relatively long incubation period, understanding the scope of the outbreak has been complicated as states differ in their reporting practices.
Some report both confirmed and likely cases as one figure, and some wait to report to the CDC until after investigations are complete. On top of that, the CDC under President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, in 2025 made State reporting of Cyclospora optional as it scaled back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network.
“CDC is aware that States are likely to report higher case counts of cyclosporiasis than reflected in CDC data and is working closely with states to update numbers as additional cases are confirmed,” the agency wrote on its website, which has a current count of 843 confirmed cases.
It said it is aware of 1,500 more that require further analysis.
“So far this year, multiple states have reported an increase in cases in the last two weeks compared to the same period in 2025,” the CDC added.
Published – July 11, 2026 02:01 pm IST