Foodborne Parasitic Outbreak That Causes 'Explosive' Diarrhea Has Spread to 17 States
Foodborne Parasitic Outbreak That Causes 'Explosive' Diarrhea Has Spread to 17 States
Cara Lynn ShultzWed, July 1, 2026 at 9:57 PM UTC
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Technician tests for cyclosporaCredit: Getty -
At least 145 people across 17 states have been sickened by a Cyclospora outbreak, which has left 20 people hospitalized
The CDC says the illness is caused by consuming food or drink contaminated with feces containing the parasite
New York has the most cases while investigations into the outbreak's source are ongoing across multiple states
Health officials are searching for the source of a foodborne parasitic outbreak that's sickened at least 145 people across 17 states, causing "explosive" diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 20 people have been hospitalized with cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora. While the infection is often acquired in tropical or subtropical regions, "These people became sick after eating food in the United States and did not report any travel during the 14 days before they got sick," the CDC says.
New York has seen the most cases of the outbreak, with the CDC saying between 31 and 80 people have been sickened. Cases have been reported in neighboring states Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
The parasite has sickened people in 17 states, the CDC saysCredit: CDC
The CDC lists other impacted states as Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The agency doesn't mention Michigan, but on June 29, health officials from the state's Monroe County announced in a press release that the Cyclospora parasite had been identified as the cause of a "cluster" of cases.
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The parasite infects the small intestine, causing "watery diarrhea" and "frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements," the CDC says, noting that most people recover without treatment. Because of this, "the true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis was likely higher than the number reported. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora," says the CDC, adding that the only way to diagnose the illness is by testing someone's stool.
Stock image of the CDC sign at the agency's Atlanta buildingCredit: Getty
The symptoms are as unpleasant as how the infection is acquired: by eating or drinking food contaminated with feces that contains the parasite. The youngest person infected in this outbreak is 5 years old, the CDC says, with the oldest being 86.
"Local, state, and federal (CDC, FDA) public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases in more than one state. Investigations to identify potential sources are ongoing," the CDC says, but no potential causes of the outbreaks have been identified yet.
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
