If you’ve recently heard the term Cyclospora, you’re not alone. The so-called “explosive diarrhea parasite” is currently exploding online. But just because we’re hearing more about it now does not mean the parasite or the illness it causes are new
“We’ve seen this before. It’s common during the summer,” said Meghan Brett, MD, an infectious diseases physician and the epidemiologist at The University of New Mexico Hospital. “This is something that we see every year, and some years are worse than others.”
New Mexico has had four cases and no hospitalizations so far in 2026, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Outbreaks in several other states have raised public awareness of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora and Cyclosporiasis, the intestinal sickness the parasite causes. But Brett said there is no need to panic
“There is treatment,” Brett said, and effective prevention strategies. In order to avoid sickness, it’s important to understand how the parasite operates
We’ve seen this before. It’s common during the summer. This is something that we see every year, and some years are worse than others
– Meghan Brett, MD, UNM Hospital Epidemiologist & Infectious Diseases Physician
Where Cyclospora is Found and How it Spreads
Cyclosporiasis usually occurs in late spring through late summer, and the hallmark symptom is watery diarrhea that persists for days or comes and goes over a longer period of time. The parasite spreads through water, fruit or vegetables that have been contaminated by human feces, Brett said
Previous outbreaks have been identified in bagged salads, fresh herbs and berries; foods that are more difficult to thoroughly clean because of their shape and texture
“Sometimes it’s due to a commonthen are distributed throughout the United States; and sometimes it can be more local,” she explained
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating the nationwide outbreak. CDC officials reported, as of now, there is no evidence of a single outbreak linking cases across multiple states, and their efforts to identify “potential clusters and potential
Brett said a unique challenge presented by this specific illness is how long it takes for symptoms to manifest after infection occurs. The intestinal symptoms are not immediate and can happen 1-2 weeks after someone eats contaminated food or drinks contaminated water. That places a lot of meals on the list of potential suspects, but direct person-to-person spread is unlikely
Preventing Cyclosporiasis
According to the CDCand Meghan Brett, MD
- Wash hands after using the restroom and before consuming or preparing food
- Clean surfaces before and after food is prepared or eaten
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under water before consuming
- Scrub firm produce like melons and cucumbers
- Refrigerate food as soon as possible, but no longer than two hours after preparing
Treating Cyclosporiasis
Prevention methods are highly effective at thwarting Cyclospora, but if infection does occur, Brett said there are effective treatment methods too
At home, it’s most important to drink fluids
“Cyclospora can cause diarrhea that’s more persistent in people, sometimes fever,” she said. “If they have a day or two of diarrhea, and they’re able to remain hydrated, they don’t need to seek care; but if they’re having weak immune systems or their symptoms persist, then that’s the time to go get more testing, because it could be other infections.”
People with weakened immune systems are vulnerable to more severe symptoms like weight loss, injury to intestinal lining or dehydration. Brett encourages anyone struggling to manage symptoms at home to seek medical care
Cyclosporais identified through lab tests, “then treatment is usually Bactrim,” Brett said, a common sulfa antibiotic. But it is possible for symptoms to go away on their own, over time
“Fiber is always a good idea, and hydration,” she continued. “I think those are probably the key things, and then just making sure you’re staying on top of electrolytes as well.”
As for treating the parasite on a nationwide scale, “It’s really important that there’s support for public health in order to be able to figure out what’s leading to these infections.”
To read more about Cyclospora from the New Mexico Department of Health,click here
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