Cyclosporiasis alert announced by San Bernardino County

NEWS

Cyclosporiasis alert announced by San Bernardino County

Rene Ray De La CruzVictorville Daily Press
July 24, 2026, 10:08 a.m. PT

• San Bernardino County has issued a public health alert after two local cases of cyclosporiasis were reported.
• The alert coincides with a growing U.S. outbreak of the parasite, with over 4,173 confirmed cases reported to the CDC since May 1.

San Bernardino County Public Health officials are alerting residents as the U.S. faces the growing outbreak of the microscopic parasite cyclospora, which often causes diarrhea

The county is encouraging residents to take steps to help prevent the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, after two cases were reported locally this year. 

Public health officials said they have not identified any outbreaks or clusters in the county

Cyclospora spreads when people eat food or drink water contaminated with feces that contains the parasite, county officials stated. 

U.S. outbreak

Since May 1, a total of 4,173 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Thousands of additional cases requiring further analysis have been reported across 41 states among individuals who became ill after eating contaminated food, the county said

However, the actual number may be higher because only cases reported to the CDC are included. Due to the delay between when symptoms start and when cases are reported, many individuals recover without seeking medical care

The CDC reported that it had identified five states with cases linked to the ongoing outbreak: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. 

On Wednesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services had reported 7,171 cases of cyclosporiasis

Ohio reported about 1,244 cases, Indiana with 594 cases, West Virginia at  195 cases, and Kentucky with 192 cases

California and New Jersey reported that the number of cases reported this year matches traditional seasonal trends. 

Pinpointing the cyclospora outbreak

Mexico has denied responsibility in the nationwide outbreak of a parasitic infection linked to lettuce that has sickened thousands across 41 U.S. states

Laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis had surpassed 4,000 as of July 21, according to the CDC, with the actual number of sick estimated to be above 10,000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked the outbreak back to lettuce grown by Taylor Farms in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato

The country’s health minister, David Kershenobich, refuted the FDA’s assertion on July 21. The same day, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a news briefing the outbreak was “under control.”

Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall on July 17, removing all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the U.S. market as a precaution

Meanwhile, authorities in the U.S. and Mexico continue to search for a cause behind the case clusters

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis 

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis usually begin one to two weeks after ingesting contaminated food or water and can include:

• Prolonged watery diarrhea, which may be explosive and intermittent 
• Stomach cramps
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Low-grade fever

County officials noted that not everyone infected with cyclospora will experience symptoms. 

They suggest that people experiencing symptoms should contact their health care provider. Cyclosporiasis is treatable with antibiotics

If left untreated, symptoms may last from several days to weeks. Some symptoms, such as diarrhea, may go away temporarily but return later. Individuals experiencing frequent diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, county officials said. 

They added that cyclosporiasis is not usually a life-threatening illness, and most infected individuals recover without treatment. However, some individuals may be at higher risk of severe illness, including:

• People with a weakened immune system (HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc.)
• People with pre-existing medical conditions (diabetes, heart disease, etc.)
• People living or traveling in tropical or subtropical regions

The best way to help prevent cyclosporiasis is to avoid consuming food or water that may be contaminated with feces and follow these food safety guidelines:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing food, especially fresh produce, and after using the restroom.
• Wash utensils and surfaces, such as cutting boards and countertops, after preparing each food item to help prevent cross-contamination.
• Thoroughly rinse all fruits and vegetables with water before eating, cutting, or cooking them.
• For lettuce and other salad greens:
• Purchase whole heads of lettuce instead of prewashed, bagged lettuce or pre-mixed salad kits.
• Before preparation, remove and discard the outer two to three layers of leaves.
• Thoroughly wash the remaining inner leaves under clean running water. Do not soak.
• When preparing greens and produce that can be heated, cook to an internal temperature of at least 158°F (70°C). 
• The parasite is resistant to routine chemical disinfection, and washing alone cannot guarantee its removal.
• Cook food thoroughly and store it at safe temperatures.
• If working as a food retailer, ensure that staff are following food safety handling practices to prevent foodborne illness.

USA TODAY contributed to this story

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz