HEALTHCARE
Should you be concerned about cyclosporiasis in RI? What a doctor says
Nolan RogalskiProvidence Journal
July 15, 2026, 5:07 a.m. ET
The United States is in the midst of a cyclosporiasis outbreak that the latest data say could be impacting nearly 7,000 people
According to a CDC update published July 14, there are reports of 1,645 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases in the country, and over 5,000 more people might have the parasite that causes it
Unlike most bacterial foodborne illnesses that resolve within a few days, cyclosporiasis can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms that linger for weeks or even longer, according to the Food and Drug Administration. As a result, it is being closely monitored by national experts
Dr. Kevin Gibas, the associate medical director of epidemiology and infection control at Rhode Island Hospital, said he wanted to “hammer home” to Rhode Islanders that they do not need to be overly concerned
“Although it is making a lot of headlines, [cyclosporiasis] is an infection that we have treatments for, that we manage, and that people generally recover pretty well from,” he said
How has cyclosporiasis hit Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is not one of the states heavily impacted by the parasite – the state has reported three cases of cyclosporiasis this year, and Gibas said none of those have been linked to the current outbreak
According to a July 14 statement from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), only one case has occurred during what the CDC calls the “cyclosporiasis season,” which runs annually from May 1 until Aug. 31. One case occurred before May 1; the timing of one case is unknown
Experts say the risk of contracting the parasite remains low for Rhode Islanders. The risks of severe impacts, they said, are greater for children, the elderly and the immunocompromised
“While some people are at higher risk because of underlying health conditions, most people with healthy immune systems will recover from cyclosporiasis without treatment,” RIDOH Public Information Officer Joseph Wendelken said in a statement
According to the CDC, 9% of confirmed cases nationwide have been hospitalized, and none have died
“I’m sure that with the public health investigation going on, they’ll eventually isolate the
How can I avoid it?
Experts have not yet been able to identify theecause of the delay in the displaying of symptoms
According to the CDC, given all currently available information, the best way to avoid cyclosporiasis is to avoid food or water that may be contaminated with feces. Previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce such as raspberries, fresh basil, cilantro, scallions, snow peas, and bagged salad, the department said
The illness generally does not spread directly from one person to another, according to the American Medical Association‘s website, because it is only transmitted over a week
What do symptoms look like?
According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of cyclosporiasis are:
- Watery or “explosive” diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Less common symptoms may include:
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Headache
- Low-grade fever
- Other flu-like symptoms
Symptoms are expected to show up anywhere between two days and two weeks after consuming contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, according to the CDC
What should I do if I think I have cyclosporiasis?
Anyone who faces severe intestinal discomfort or diarrhea that persists over several days should seek medical attention, Gibas said. Some antibiotics can treat the parasite
However most healthy adults can recover on their own – the CDC cited this as one reason why the total number of cases remains unclear
Whether or not someone who potentially has cyclosporiasis chooses to get help from a doctor, experts said people must hydrate themselves well, particularly with Rhode Island amidst another heat wave
“You want to get ahead of it because you don’t want to become dehydrated or anything like that,” Gibas said
How bad is this outbreak?
Experts said this year’s outbreak has an abnormally high number of cases. However, cyclosporiasis is not new: it has been around, and cases typically rise during the summer
“This parasite hasn’t changed,” Dr. Tyler Evans, infectious disease specialist and CEO of Wellness Equity Alliance, said in a statement. “What’s changed is our ability to see it.”
At this time last summer, there were 249 cases reported nationally. As of July 13, four states had at least 150 reported cases
There have been discrepancies between cases reported by the federal government and cases reported by individual states
On July 9 – the date of the most recent national report before Tuesday – the CDC had confirmed 843 cases of cyclosporiasis. At that time, Michigan alone had reported 1,251 cases
According to the CDC’s website, reporting cases of cyclosporiasis became optional in 2025. It had been mandatory since 1997
“Import inspections, produce sampling, public health laboratories, epidemiologists, and outbreak investigators are the immune system of our food supply,” Evans said. “When we weaken that system, the outbreak doesn’t stop – it simply becomes harder to detect.”
Previous reporting from The Providence Journal was used in this story
