Health officials in the United Kingdom have reported an increase in Cyclospora infections in people returning from Mexico.
Between April 30 and July 15, 67 cases of cyclosporiasis were recorded in the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland, and Public Health Wales said there were 30 cases in England, 27 in Scotland, and 10 in Wales. The median age of patients is 46, and two thirds are female.
Of the 52 cases with travel information, 48 went to Mexico, with one person going to both Mexico and the United States. Detailed information for 28 sick people shows them primarily staying in the Riviera Maya region but several visited Cancún.
Patients stayed in different hotels and consumed a variety of food and drinks within their resort as part of an all-inclusive holiday package.
There were 87 cyclosporiasis cases in England in 2025 and 124 in 2024. Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite that does not naturally occur in the UK and there is no risk of person to person spread.
Dr Philip Veal, consultant in travel health at UKHSA, said: “We have recently detected a rise in Cyclospora infections among travelers returning from Mexico. Travelers to Mexico and other areas where the infection is more common can reduce their risk by following good food and water hygiene measures, including drinking bottled water and eating thoroughly cooked food, even when staying in high-end all-inclusive resorts.”
Large U.S. outbreak
People are advised to choose freshly prepared food that is thoroughly cooked and served piping hot. Foods that should be avoided include fresh uncooked berries and herbs, unpeeled fruit and salad items.
UKHSA said it is anticipating a further rise in travel-associated cases linked to summer trips to Mexico and to the U.S., where there has been a widespread outbreak.
The Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Health, said that testing for Cyclospora cayetanensis carried out in the U.S. and Mexico had not detected the parasite in any samples.
Findings were based on an investigation by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS). A sanitary inspection and verification visit from July 18 to 20 at the Taylor Farms facility in Mexico found no evidence of the parasite.
Ten lettuce samples were analyzed, including five whole raw products and five processed products, along with four water samples.
About Cyclospora
Anyone who has developed symptoms of Cyclospora infection and has reason to believe they have been exposed to the parasite, should seek medical attention. Specific tests are required and antibiotics are used to fight the parasite.
Cyclospora infection can cause severe abdominal pain, severe watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, body aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can develop between two and 14 days after exposure. Though symptoms can be severe enough to send people to the hospital, it's rare for people to die from Cyclospora infections.
Symptoms can last for a month or more and can reoccur for several more months if not treated.
Cyclospora is a type of protozoa, which is a single-celled organism. It is transmitted when people somehow ingest contaminated feces, typically through contaminated food or water. It can be spread only through human waste, unlike E. coli and salmonella, which can also be spread from animal fecal matter.
Previous outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce, including lettuce, basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries, and snow peas.
Food safety experts say there's no evidence that washing the produce will remove the parasite because it becomes embedded in the flesh of the produce.
