The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting almost 1,500 more patients in multiple Cyclospora outbreaks than it was a week ago.
As of Aug. 24, the CDC had a patient count of 17,180, up by 1,464 on Aug. 18. The agency for the first time definitively said the number includes patients from the outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in addition to those from at least six smaller multistate outbreaks.
The number of patients for the outbreak linked to the iceberg lettuce has not been updated yet this week.
The CDC reports a total of 922 hospitalized patients with two deaths having been reported in Michigan.
The agency is also reporting that there are at least 11,844 additional patients in the seven outbreaks who have not yet been confirmed. This is because some patients do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for the Cyclospora parasite. The CDC estimates for every confirmed patient in a Cyclospora outbreak there are 83 who go undetected.
There are 48 states and the District of Columbia reporting patients. They have a median age of 46, with a range of 1 to 99 years old. The median date symptoms started for cases is July 7 with a range of range May 1 to Aug. 19.
For comparison, 1,180 cases of infection from the Cyclospora parasite were reported in the United States between May 1 and Aug. 31, 2025.
About Cyclospora
Food contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite does not look, smell or taste bad.
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 microscopic. 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 U.S. 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.
