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Cyclosporiasis outbreak: Latest as officials seek source, cases rise 29%
By Sara Moniuszko42% USA TODAY14%
7/15/2026, 2:19:05 PM
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State and federal health officials have confirmed 1,645 cases of cyclosporiasis, and the cause of the stomach-churning parasitic infection spiking across the country remains under investigation.
More than 5,100 additional cases are also being investigated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Confirmed or suspected cases have been reported in 34 states.
CDC officials said a cluster of cases in four states − Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia − are likely linked, but officials are still trying to determine whether a food or produce item is the source of the surge.
Cyclosporiasis, or the disease caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, can cause frequent, watery diarrhea or explosive bowel movements, nausea, cramps, bloating and low-grade fever.
Dr.
Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's latest nominee to become director of the CDC, faced questions during a confirmation hearing Wednesday, describing cyclosporiasis as "a terrible, terrible disease" and something "you would not want anyone to experience."
See the latest cyclosporiasis cases in your county
05:09 PM ET, July 15 2026, Dian Zhang, Stephen J.
Beard and Ramon Padilla
As cyclosporiasis cases have spread to states across the country, USA TODAY collected figures directly from state health departments to show where reported cases are concentrated and which communities have been hardest hit.
Michigan has reported more cyclosporiasis cases than any other state in the nation, with more than 3,700 reported cases and 44 hospitalizations.
At the county level, Wayne County reported the most cases, 339, followed by Washtenaw and Monroe counties, based on information available through July 13.
Ohio has also reported a record high number of cyclosporiasis cases.
Based on the latest data available through July 9, the state confirmed 264 cases.
Lucas County reported the state's highest number of cases with 86, followed by Wood County with 49 and Wyandot County with 23.
Read the full story here to see a county-level map of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Connecticut.
Do I have to cook fruits and vegetables?
02:12 PM ET, July 15 2026, Sara M Moniuszko
Well, heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite, health officials say.
If you plan to eat fresh produce, the CDC recommends the following food safety measures:
Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking.
Fruits and vegetables that are labeled "prewashed" do not need to be washed again at home.
Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
Remove any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
Refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
Dr.
Kartik Cherabuddi, chief hospital epidemiology officer at Tampa General Hospital, emphasized that people should be aware, not alarmed.
"Consumers should remember that the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh the risks.
The focus should be on safe handling and preparation," Cherabuddi recently told USA TODAY.
This photograph shows freshly harvested raspberries in crates on a parched raspberry field ahead of harvesting near Arilj, western Serbia on July 7, 2025.
Are cucumbers safe from cyclosporiasis?
02:07 PM ET, July 15 2026, Sara Moniuszko
With health officials saying lettuce could be a possible source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan, should you swap cucumbers in for your summer salads?
Officials are still investigating cases across the country, so other food items have not been ruled out as a potential source.
But, cucumbers seem to be a safer option than lettuce for now, both since they can be peeled and haven't been linked to past outbreaks.
Bagged salad mixes and kits, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions, however, have been linked to past cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the United States and Canada, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services noted.
Dr.
Rabia de Latour, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone, recently told USA TODAY she is personally avoiding bagged lettuce, cilantro, parsley and raspberries until a source is identified.
Fruits and vegetables with peels on them – like bananas, oranges and kiwis – are still fine to eat as long as they have been washed, she said.
Contributing: Melina Khan, USA TODAY
Taco Bell locations remove ingredients amid cyclosporiasis outbreak
01:52 PM ET, July 15 2026, Ken Alltucker
Taco Bell has removed ingredients from some stores in what the fast food chain said was a precautionary move as thousands of people have been infected with cyclosporiasis.
The restaurant chain didn't identify locations where it has pared down ingredients or where menu items were affected.
The Detroit Free Press reported several metro Detroit locations stopped selling lettuce and cilantro.
In a statement to USA TODAY, Taco Bell Corp. said it has "voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.
We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities."
Taco Bell said public health officials have not "confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer."
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JULY 14: In an aerial view, customers depart a Taco Bell restaurant on July 14, 2026 in Pasadena, California.
Federal and state health officials have reportedly begun investigating whether lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants has led to the widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness, which has sickened thousands around the country.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Growing your own veggies?
These expert tips keep your produce safe
01:28 PM ET, July 15 2026, Jessica Moore
As concerns about cyclosporiasis and produce-linked illnesses continue, backyard gardeners may wonder whether growing their own fruits and vegetables is safer than buying them.
Experts say homegrown produce can reduce some risks, but only if gardeners pay attention to the same food-safety basics used in any kitchen.
"The riskiest foods right now are raw foods that are handled a lot and not cooked before eating.
Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States have been linked to fresh produce, and past outbreaks have involved items such as basil, cilantro and raspberries," says gastroenterologist Dr.
Jason Korenblit.
Tomatoes and peppers in Colorado.
Infectious disease expert unsure how long current outbreak will last
01:02 PM ET, July 15 2026, Terry Collins
Dr.
Suraj Saggar, chief of infectious diseases at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement on Wednesday about the uncertainty surrounding the current cyclospora outbreak, as the parasite typically occurs during the summer months.
Saggar previously noted that it's still unclear whether this is one large multistate outbreak or several smaller outbreaks happening at the same time.
Saggar, who is familiar with the parasite, said there could be multiple clusters involving different sources.
"What's different this year is the unusually high number of cases and the fact that investigators still haven't identified a specific source.
Often, public health officials can trace an outbreak back to a particular farm, grower, supplier, or contaminated water source and issue a targeted recall," Saggar said.
"Right now, they haven't been able to do that, suggesting there may be multiple contaminated products or multiple unrelated outbreaks occurring simultaneously.
"Overall, this is a significant public health story because of the number of cases and the lack of a clearly identified source," Saggar said.
The produce safety mistakes that could raise your cyclosporiasis risk
12:47 PM ET, July 15 2026, Trisha Easto
Health officials are investigating a growing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that can cause explosive diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The parasitic infection is said to be caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known simply as cyclospora, and is usually contracted through contaminated food.
While officials continue to look for the source, experts say there are a few actions you can take at home to help reduce your risk – including properly washing fresh produce before you eat it.
The USA TODAY Shopping team spoke with Dr.
Vanessa Coffman, Alliance Director at Stop Foodborne Illness to learn more about how to handle produce and help protect your family from cyclosporiasis.
Read what she had to say here.
Cyclosporiasis vs. other GI illnesses: Key differences explained
12:39 PM ET, July 15 2026, Janet Loehrke and George Petras
At least 1,600 people across the United States are confirmed sick with cyclosporiasis, a foodborne infection that's grabbed public attention because of symptoms of explosive diarrhea and the number of cases being reported.
While cyclosporiasis has the public spotlight, other diseases such as E. coli/STEC and Salmonella are much more common in the U.S. and can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
For a graphic representation of how the three illnesses compare, click here.
It's not just produce.
Where else can the 'explosive diarrhea' bug hide?
12:35 PM ET, July 15 2026, Mary Walrath-Holdridge
As cases of an illness stemming from a parasite that causes symptoms like explosive diarrhea continue to rise across the U.S., the hunt for the source has so far seen investigators turn up empty-handed.
For years, cyclosporiasis, a stomach-churning illness caused by the cyclospora parasite, often found on produce, has largely been treated as a food safety problem.
But as health officials struggle to identify the source of a growing outbreak, some experts believe the focus on food may be obscuring the bigger picture.
While information from past outbreaks has state and federal health officials issuing warnings about known culprits like fresh herbs and lettuce, former Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration officials told USA TODAY that the key to the mystery could be in something much more ubiquitous than produce: water.
"The role of water in the transmission of cyclospora to humans is probably underestimated or underrepresented and less understood," former FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas told USA TODAY.
"There have been some big outbreaks in the United States that were produce-related, but it was likely, and in some cases proven, that the water served as the conduit for the produce contamination."
Read more here
The best electrolyte drinks for diarrhea as cyclosporiasis cases rise
12:30 PM ET, July 15 2026, Jessica Moore
As cyclosporiasis cases rise across the U.S., doctors say one of the biggest risks isn't just infection – it's severe dehydration caused by persistent diarrhea.
"Dehydration is the biggest concern with significant diarrhea, and replacing both fluids and electrolytes is the most important first step," says Andrea Giamalva, Chief Medical Officer at Experity.
According to the CDC, oral rehydration solutions are recommended for dehydration caused by severe diarrhea because they are specifically formulated to replace the fluids and electrolytes lost during illness.
Lettuce could be the source of cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan
12:23 PM ET, July 15 2026, Melina Khan
Lettuce could be causing a cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan, though officials are still not ruling out other food items as the source.
On July 13, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that it has zeroed in on lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for the state's outbreak.
However, no specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified as the source, and other food items have not been eliminated as a possibility, the agency said in a news release.
Read more here.
CDC director nominee 'not aware' of surveillance cuts
12:16 PM ET, July 15 2026, Sara Moniuszko
CDC director nominee Dr.
Erica Schwartz said she was "not aware" that the CDC last year scaled back surveillance on foodborne illnesses, including Cyclospora, through a program called FoodNet.
"If you are confirmed, do you commit to reinstating the required reporting for cyclospora?"
Sen.
Patty Murray, D-Washington, asked.
"You have my commitment to work with your staff and work with the CDC scientists to understand what can be done.
Why was it?
Why did why did it stop?
And what can we do moving forward?"
Schwartz said.
Schwartz described cyclosporiasis as "a terrible, terrible disease" and something "you would not want anyone to experience."
"It is the job of our public health agencies to catch outbreaks like this and to take action," Murray added.
"And it's hard to do when you have removed the reporting requirement, or fired expert staff, or undermined trust in public health."
Erica Schwartz attends her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill July 15, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Schwartz, President Trump's pick to lead the CDC, would fill the position left vacant since August 2025 when Trump ousted former CDC Director Dr.
Susan Monarez.
'Tie yourself to a toilet'
10:33 AM ET, July 15 2026, Sara Moniuszko
In his opening remarks during Wednesday's CDC director confirmation hearing, Sen.
Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and chair of the Senate committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, brought up cyclosporiasis, stumbling a bit on the pronunciation.
"It's something that starts with a 'c' and ends with an 'sis,' and if you get it, tie yourself to a toilet," he laughed, before adding it is "a public health issue which is obviously impacting us."
US Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican from Louisiana, questions Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on "proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Health and Human Services" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: *Cyclosporiasis outbreak: Latest as officials seek source, cases rise*
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