West Virginia health officials see unusual spike in parasitic illness cyclosporiasis
Mon, July 13, 2026 at 6:56 PM
UpdatedMon, July 13, 2026 at 7:05 PM
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Health officials are seeing an unusual spike in a parasitic illness this summer. (WCHS)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) —Health officials say a parasite that may be linked to fresh produce is sickening people across the Tri-State. Investigators are urging anyone with lingering stomach issues to seek medical attention as investigators work to identify a
West Virginia is reporting an unusual spike in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that causes severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms
Ohio has reported hundreds of cases, Kentucky has also confirmed infections and the CDC is investigating
Numbers are changing, but Kanawha County has more than a dozen of the state’s roughly 50 reported cases
Kanawha County became aware of three new cases over the weekend. Typically, 1-of-10 are hospitalized from this parasite so numbers are likely higher
“It is alarming,” said Dr. Steven Shenaur, health officer with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. “With cyclosporiasis, we typically see about one case a year here in Kanawha County. As of this morning, we have 13.”
Cyclospora can often be traced back to contaminated produce. (WCHS)
Cyclospora is most often spread through contaminated fresh produce or contaminated water
Health officials recommend washing fresh fruits and vegetables as a precaution, but investigators have not identified the food responsible for the current outbreak
“Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite that it typically transmitted from fresh fruits and vegetables that are contaminated,” Eshenaur said. “Some common fruits and vegetables that have been implicated are fresh herbs like basil or cilantro, fresh raspberries and some of the bagged, mixed salads, but we don’t know specifically yet in this outbreak where these cases are coming from.”
Doctors say anyone with persistent diarrhea should contact a health care provider as Cyclospora requires specific laboratory testing and is usually treated with antibiotics
