The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 19,595 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States since May 1, a figure more than 16 times higher than the 1,180 cases reported for the entire 2025 season ([1]). Health officials are also tracking 6,149 additional suspected or pending cases that have not yet received laboratory confirmation. The official Cyclospora season concluded on August 31, yet new reports continue to arrive because diagnosis and confirmation can take up to six weeks.
Scale of the Current Surge
This year’s confirmed count already dwarfs previous seasons and reflects both increased testing and a genuine rise in infections. The CDC’s laboratory-confirmed total stands at 19,595, while state health departments report a combined 33,548 cases when they include probable and pending classifications. Several states tally illnesses on a calendar-year basis rather than by season, which adds cases from January through April that the CDC does not count in its seasonal total.
Michigan alone accounts for 14,718 confirmed patients as of September 3, along with 366 hospitalizations and two deaths. The state has shifted from weekly to monthly updates. Nine states have not released any public figures for 2026.
Connection to Fresh Produce
Of the CDC’s confirmed cases, 11,458 are tied to a multistate outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico. That cluster has produced 990 hospitalizations and the two reported deaths. The remaining 8,137 confirmed infections have no identified source at this time.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite often associated with contaminated fresh produce. The current outbreak has affected patients across 20 states, underscoring how a single contaminated shipment can spread widely through the supply chain.
State Reporting and Next Steps
State counts vary because laboratories and providers report on different schedules and some include probable cases the CDC excludes. The following table shows selected states with the highest reported totals and whether their cases are linked to the lettuce outbreak.
| State | Cases (as of date) | Linked to lettuce |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 14,718 (Sep 3) | Yes |
| Ohio | 5,452 (Aug 13) | Yes |
| Missouri | 2,152 (Aug 23) | Yes |
| Indiana | 2,104 (Sep 2) | Yes |
| Illinois | 1,437 (Aug 18) | Yes |
Additional cases will likely be added in the coming weeks as laboratories complete testing. Public health agencies continue to investigate the remaining infections of unknown origin while monitoring produce shipments for further risks.
AI Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by a human editor.