What we know about past outbreaks linked to cyclospora, a parasite that lead to ‘explosive diarrhea’

What we know about past outbreaks linked to cyclospora, the parasite that can lead to ‘explosive diarrhea’

A parasite causing “explosive diarrhea” is rising this summer, and CDC data shows nine U.S. foodborne outbreaks since 2006

Cyclospore is *** parasite. It is all over the environment. It’s primarily found in soil, fruits, and vegetables. Uh, it peaks, uh, during the summertime, uh, when people are eating more fruits and vegetables. And what happens is there’s *** parasite in those items that gets into your body. It adheres to your gut, and matures, and then it causes *** very intense watery diarrhea. Most people resolve it on their own. Some can get awfully sick and need antibiotics to clear it. There are multiple different organisms that can cause *** diarrheal illness, norovirus, salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and also Cyclospora. What makes Cyclospora different is that it causes an explosive diarrhea. The other organisms have different features. It could be fever, it could be bloody diarrhea, or other. But Cyclospora primarily is an explosive diarrhea. For most people, it lasts days, not weeks. For most people, they clear it on their own with just supportive care, meaning rest and hydration. But some individuals for whom it’s persistent or intense need antibiotics to clear it. I would say that if your diarrhea is not intense, it’s short duration and not associated with lightheadedness, fever, The inability to take in fluids, you’re probably OK self-managing. If you have fever, persistent nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are unable to keep up with your fluids. If you’re very young, if you’re old, if you have medical problems, and it’s persisting, those are people that would benefit from an office evaluation. At the office, they’re able to do testing such as we have right in our lab. And they take *** swab of the diarrhea, send it to our lab, and we can see if the organism is present. Common fruits and vegetables that cyclospore is found in include cilantro, basil, leafy greens, lettuce, salad mixes, spinach, uh, raspberries, blueberries. And what’s *** feature of all of those items is they have rough irregular surfaces. So they’re very difficult to fully clean. That’s the biggest challenge. That’s the biggest opportunity to reduce the risk of getting this infection. Well, people should not use things like bleach or other to clean surfaces. What they need to do is do other than just apply running water. They need some physical contacts against the food items themselves to clean the surfaces. So washing very well with clean water and then manually cleaning the fruit or vegetables generally will prevent the transmission. It’s not clear if it’s coming from farms. It’s not clear if there are other sources involved. But again, the general approach of washing it vigorously with water and then manually cleaning the food items is the best strategy that we have. There’s also not human to human transmission. The way this spreads is from *** person having diarrhea and some of that material getting into either food prep or food service. That’s the way it can transmit. Um, in general, the, the therapy is to rest and keep up with your fluids. You wanna be very selective you’re, you’re using over the counter medication, medication that slows the diarrhea. You don’t want to retain um the parasite in your system. That’s the caution about using such medicines.
Updated: 2:05 PM PDT Jul 8, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
What we know about past outbreaks linked to cyclospora, the parasite that can lead to ‘explosive diarrhea’

A parasite causing “explosive diarrhea” is rising this summer, and CDC data shows nine U.S. foodborne outbreaks since 2006

Updated: 2:05 PM PDT Jul 8, 2026
Editorial Standards ⓘ
A parasite that can cause “explosive diarrhea,” cyclospora, is on the rise this summer, with 17 states already reporting cases.As of June 16, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 145 cyclosporiasis cases among people who acquired the illness in the United States.In Michigan, the number of reported cases rose to 572 in July, up from 170 on June 30, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.What is cyclospora?“Cyclospora is a foodborne parasite that gets into people’s bodies, particularly their gut, and causes a diarrheal illness,” said Dr. Steven Goldberg, chief medical officer for HealthTrackRx, an outpatient infectious disease laboratory.The gut-churning parasite has been found in fresh produce such as:ParsleyCilantroSnow peasMesclun lettuceSpinachSalad mixesRaspberries, blueberries and blackberriesGoldberg said a feature all these food items have in common is rough, irregular surfaces, which make it easier for the parasite to hide in crevices and latch on, making them difficult to fully clean.Cyclospora does not spread through human-to-human transmission and is passed on through contaminated food.“The way this spreads is from a person having diarrhea and some of that material getting into either food prep or food service,” said Goldberg.Cyclospora infections are seasonal, with cases rising in spring and summer. The cyclosporiasis season runs from May 1 to Aug. 31.FDA investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks have recorded 21 cases related to Cyclospora outbreaks since 2013. The most common food items are fresh herbs and leafy vegetables found in salad mixes.Which food has been linked to past Cyclospora outbreaks?Goldberg said the best way to prevent cyclospora is to do more than just rinse food under running water. He said to manually clean the surface of the food, but not to use bleach or surface-cleaning agents.“If you’re going to a farmer’s market or other area and you purchase food, that food has to have a prep process other than just soaking in water. It needs to be washed with a forceful water flow and manually cleaned,” said Goldberg.What are symptoms of cyclosporiasis?“There are multiple organisms that can cause diarrhea,” said Goldberg. “What makes cyclospora different is that it causes explosive diarrhea.”The CDC website lists some symptoms of cyclosporiasis to watch for:Watery diarrhea (most common)Loss of appetiteWeight lossCrampingBloatingIncreased gasNauseaFatigueLess common symptoms may include:VomitingBody achesHeadacheLow-grade feverOther flu-like symptomsFor most people, cyclosporiasis lasts days, but some with persistent or severe infections may need antibiotics to clear it. Goldberg said people should seek medical care if they have a fever, persistent nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, or are unable to keep up with fluids.How to prevent cyclospora? The CDC has these prevention tips people can follow to help prevent foodborne illness related to fresh produce:WashWash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.PrepareWash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.Fruits and vegetables that are labeled “prewashed” do not need to be washed again at home. Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush. Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating. StoreRefrigerate cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, within two hours. There is currently no evidence of a single multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases.But in recent years, the CDC says the number of reported U.S. cases has been increasing as the parasite has been found on domestically grown produce.“We’re seeing now this year an acceleration of food-related illness in the United States. We don’t have a single explanation for it. It’s not clear if it is coming from farms or if there are other sources involved,” Goldberg said.
NEW YORK —

A parasite that can cause “explosive diarrhea,” cyclospora, is on the rise this summer, with 17 states already reporting cases

As of June 16, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 145 cyclosporiasis cases among people who acquired the illness in the United States

In Michigan, the number of reported cases rose to 572 in July, up from 170 on June 30, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

What is cyclospora?

“Cyclospora is a foodborne parasite that gets into people’s bodies, particularly their gut, and causes a diarrheal illness,” said Dr. Steven Goldberg, chief medical officer for HealthTrackRx, an outpatient infectious disease laboratory

The gut-churning parasite has been found in fresh produce such as:

Parsley
Cilantro
Snow peas
Mesclun lettuce
Spinach
Salad mixes
Raspberries, blueberries and blackberries

Goldberg said a feature all these food items have in common is rough, irregular surfaces, which make it easier for the parasite to hide in crevices and latch on, making them difficult to fully clean

Cyclospora does not spread through human-to-human transmission and is passed on through contaminated food

“The way this spreads is from a person having diarrhea and some of that material getting into either food prep or food service,” said Goldberg

Cyclospora infections are seasonal, with cases rising in spring and summer. The cyclosporiasis season runs from May 1 to Aug. 31

FDA investigations of foodborne illness outbreaks have recorded 21 cases related to Cyclospora outbreaks since 2013. The most common food items are fresh herbs and leafy vegetables found in salad mixes

Which food has been linked to past Cyclospora outbreaks?

Goldberg said the best way to prevent cyclospora is to do more than just rinse food under running water. He said to manually clean the surface of the food, but not to use bleach or surface-cleaning agents

“If you’re going to a farmer’s market or other area and you purchase food, that food has to have a prep process other than just soaking in water. It needs to be washed with a forceful water flow and manually cleaned,” said Goldberg

What are symptoms of cyclosporiasis?

“There are multiple organisms that can cause diarrhea,” said Goldberg. “What makes cyclospora different is that it causes explosive diarrhea.”

The CDC website lists some symptoms of cyclosporiasis to watch for:

Watery diarrhea (most common)
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

For most people, cyclosporiasis lasts days, but some with persistent or severe infections may need antibiotics to clear it. Goldberg said people should seek medical care if they have a fever, persistent nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, or are unable to keep up with fluids

How to prevent cyclospora?

The CDC has these prevention tips people can follow to help prevent foodborne illness related to fresh produce:

Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.

Prepare

Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
Fruits and vegetables that are labeled “prewashed” do not need to be washed again at home.
Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.

Store

Refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, within two hours.

There is currently no evidence of a single multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases

But in recent years, the CDC says the number of reported U.S. cases has been increasing as the parasite has been found on domestically grown produce

“We’re seeing now this year an acceleration of food-related illness in the United States. We don’t have a single explanation for it. It’s not clear if it is coming from farms or if there are other

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What we know about past outbreaks linked to cyclospora, a parasite that lead to ‘explosive diarrhea’

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