Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens More Than 400 People Across Four States
The CDC reported on July 16, 2026, that a Cyclospora outbreak had sickened more than 400 people across four states. Investigators have not yet identified the contaminated food source. Cyclospora causes intestinal illness and is typically linked to fresh produce.
A growing Cyclospora outbreak has sickened more than 400 people in four states, and investigators are still searching for the contaminated food responsible, the CDC reported on July 16, 2026.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes intestinal illness. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue. The illness can last weeks or months if not treated with antibiotics.
The CDC said state, local, and federal partners were working together to investigate the outbreak. As of the report date, no single food source had been confirmed as the cause.
Cyclospora outbreaks in the United States have historically been linked to fresh produce imported from tropical and subtropical regions. Past outbreaks have been traced to raspberries, basil, cilantro, and salad mixes.
The CDC urged people experiencing symptoms consistent with Cyclospora infection to contact their healthcare provider. The illness is treatable with a combination of two antibiotics, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole.
Food safety experts noted that Cyclospora is not killed by standard food washing. The parasite requires specific treatment methods to be eliminated from produce.
The outbreak comes as the CDC faces scrutiny over staffing cuts that have reduced its capacity to investigate foodborne illness outbreaks. Public health advocates have raised concerns that reduced surveillance could slow the identification of contaminated food sources and allow outbreaks to grow larger before they are contained.
