Cyclospora Cases Rise Across More Than 30 States as Source Remains Unidentified

More than 2,600 Cyclospora infections have been recorded in Michigan, with additional cases reported in over 30 states. The parasite, which spreads through uncooked fresh produce contaminated with human feces, causes prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and fatigue.

Health officials have not identified a confirmed source of the contamination. A professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota said the lack of information on possible sources is frustrating.

The CDC reduced active surveillance requirements for Cyclospora and seven other pathogens in 2025 as part of changes to the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. The network continues to monitor Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

A director at George Washington University said staffing limitations from funding reductions can slow patient interviews, making it harder to identify common exposures before food is discarded or memories fade. The same professor noted that national case counts often lag state reports due to delays in confirming and forwarding data.

The CDC's most recent published total stood at 843 cases as of July 10.

Cyclospora has a long incubation period, so people may become ill days or weeks after exposure. Many fresh produce items are combined at restaurants, complicating efforts to trace individual ingredients. The professor said outbreak detection relies on state health departments, laboratories and federal agencies working together.

Cyclospora remains a nationally reportable disease, so state and local departments continue to forward case counts to the CDC through the Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.