Cases of the ‘explosive’ diarrheal parasite continue to rise, reaching – and surpassing – record numbers in the US.
From August 17th the CDC has recorded 15,716 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the US since May 1, with nearly 12,000 additional suspected or possible cases.
And that number is expected to grow as investigations into multiple outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the US continue.
By comparison, during the same period in 2025, there were 1,180 domestically acquired cases.
This year the cases cover 47 states plus Washington, direct currentand included 828 hospitalizations and two deaths.
Patients range in age from one to 99 years and the median date of disease onset was July 7.
The CDC and FDA are investigating multiple outbreaks of cyclosporiasisa gastrointestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite that leads to sudden and painful diarrhea.
Pictured above is a Taylor Farms location in Salinas, California last month. Although samples of the company’s lettuce initially tested positive for the cyclospora pathogen, subsequent testing revealed this to be a false positive result
Lettuce was first mentioned as a possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, but confusion remains because the source has never been definitively confirmed by a positive pathogen test (stock image)
The map above shows where cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported
The cyclospora outbreak was first identified in July and was linked to shredded lettuce served at select Taco Bell locations.
Taco Bell then stopped using lettuce in its menu items.
Shortly thereafter, supplier Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico that the CDC and FDA said was linked to the outbreak.
However, it was subsequently revealed that the positive test result for cyclospora in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms was a false positive.
The company has stated that no further testing of its products detected the pathogen.
Still, acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in an interview with CNBC earlier this month that the FDA “is confident that iceberg lettuce from central Mexico was the culprit.”
No other possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak has been named or confirmed, leaving consumers confused about what is safe to eat and what is not, despite reassurances from health leaders.
Diamantas added that the FDA “remains confident that all iceberg lettuce associated with the cyclospora outbreak has been effectively removed from the market.”
The Department of Health and Human Services followed up in a social media post: “Cyclospora: Contained, American Food: Safe.”
In its latest update Thursday, the FDA said it continues to investigate the multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce, but it “remains confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce linked to this specific Cyclospora outbreak is off the market.”
