Discussing what Cyclospora actually is, what symptoms to look out for, and how to reduce your risk.
Who had explosive diarrhea on their 2026 bingo card?
Not me.
Last week we learned about an outbreak across the country of Cyclosporiasis, the intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora.
It can cause multiple bouts of explosive diarrhea, nausea and fatigue (fun, right?). And it’s been detected in 31 states so far according to federal health authorities. As of July 9th, the CDC reported 843 cases but as of July 13, the state of Michigan alone reported 2,643 cases.
What causes cyclosporiasis?
People contract the parasite through contaminated food and water and previous outbreaks have been tied to fresh produce, specifically, raspberries, snow peas, lettuce, basil and cilantro.
It’s still unclear however what is causing this current surge in cases. Since symptoms can start anywhere between 2 to 14 days after exposure to the parasite, it’s harder to track.
What can you do to reduce your risk?
- Wash your hands with soap and water before and handling food.
- Strip the outer layers of things like lettuce and green onion.
- Wash your produce – it won’t eliminate risk (cyclospora clings onto produce) but it can reduce the risk of contamination.
- Stick to firm fruits and veggies you can scrub before cutting into – think melons and cucumbers.
- Opt for fruits with a peel you can remove like bananas and oranges.
- The BEST way to reduce risk is to cook your veggies and fruit to at least 158 degrees F.
- Some higher risk foods you may want to avoid or cook are: bagged salad kits or greens, fresh herbs, berries (especially raspberries), snap peas, snow peas and green onion.
I know it’s a shame to be avoiding berries during peak berry season (and the toddlers will likely retaliate) but a couple other things you could consider to reduce risk are buying berries from your small, local farmers, going berry picking, and/or doing a vinegar wash with 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water.
If you notice any symptoms
Be sure to call your doctor right away – the only treatment is antibiotics. With consistent diarrhea, it’s also really important to stay hydrated (especially with the summer heat!). Drink lots of fluids!
What not to do
Wellness influencers are leveraging this outbreak to promote their “parasite cleanses” to get rid of Cyclospora. Please run for the hills if you see these posts or ads. They are not evidence-based and will not get rid of this illness. The only way to treat this parasite is with prescribed antibiotics.
