- Cyclosporiasis is a disease caused by infection by oocytes of Cyclospora cayetanensis, a pathogenic apicomplexan protozoan transmitted by feces-contaminated food and water. It is a cause of food poisoning. Because the oocysts of Cyclospora must sporulate in the environment for 1–2 weeks before they become infectious, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely.
- 2026 United States cyclosporiasis outbreak (Wikipedia)
In 2026, between May 1 and June 16, at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported across 17 U.S. states, prompting public health officials to investigate potential links to contaminated fresh produce, with the highest case counts reported in New York, Illinois, and Texas. In early July 2026, the CDC identified at least eight additional cyclosporiasis clusters in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Case interviews for these clusters were still pending, and the agency cautioned that investigations remained in their early stages. By July 14, the disease had spread to 34 states and infected nearly 7,000 people. On July 15, the disease was reported in Canada, specifically with Quebec registering 85 cases. By July 22, more than 11,500 people have been infected in 41 states.