Diarrhea parasite cases continue to rise to record levels… as source remains unconfirmed
Cases of the ‘explosive’ diarrhea parasite are continuing to climb, hitting – and surpassing – record numbers in the US.
As of August 17, the CDC has recorded 15,716 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the US since May 1, with nearly 12,000 additional suspected or possible cases.
And that number is expected to grow as investigations continue into multiple cyclosporiasis outbreaks across the US.
For comparison, during the same time period in 2025, there were 1,180 domestically acquired cases.
This year, the cases span 47 states plus Washington, DC, and include 828 hospitalizations and two deaths.
Patients range in age from one to 99 years old and the median illness onset date was July 7.
The CDC and FDA are investigating multiple cyclosporiasis outbreaks, a gastrointestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite that leads to sudden and painful diarrhea.
A Taylor Farms facility in Salinas, California, is pictured above last month. While samples of the company’s lettuce initially tested positive for the cyclospora pathogen, subsequent testing revealed this was a false-positive result
Lettuce was first named as a possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak, but confusion remains as a source has never been definitively confirmed through a positive pathogen test (stock image)
The above map shows where cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported
The outbreak of cyclospora was first identified in July and linked to shredded lettuce served at certain Taco Bell locations.
Taco Bell then stopped using lettuce in its menu items.
Shortly after, produce supplier Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico that the CDC and FDA said was linked to the outbreak.
However, it was then revealed that the positive test result for cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce was a false-positive.
The company has stated that no further testing of its products has detected the pathogen.
Despite this, Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in an interview with CNBC earlier this month that the FDA is ‘very confident that the iceberg lettuce from central Mexico was the culprit.’
No other possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak has been named or confirmed, leaving consumers confused over what is safe to eat and what isn’t, despite reassurances from health leaders.
Diamantas added that the FDA ‘remains confident that all iceberg lettuce related to 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.’
