As summer brings more fresh fruit, salads, herbs and cookout meals to the table, health officials are watching a foodborne illness that many people may not recognize by name: cyclosporiasis.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. The parasite is too small to see, smell or taste, but it can make people sick when it contaminates food or water. In the United States, cyclosporiasis is often linked to fresh produce, especially during the warmer months when more cases are reported.

The illness has been in the news because federal and state health officials are monitoring cases across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 145 domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases were reported in 17 states among people who became sick from May 1 through June 16, 2026. The CDC also noted that there is currently no evidence of one single multistate outbreak linking all cases, but several clusters remain under investigation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also listed active Cyclospora investigations involving products that have not yet been identified, meaning investigators are still working to determine whether a common food source is responsible.

Why Cyclosporiasis Can Be Hard to Recognize

One reason cyclosporiasis can be confusing is that symptoms do not always start right away. The CDC says symptoms usually begin about one week after a person eats or drinks something contaminated with Cyclospora, though they can appear as soon as two days or more than two weeks later.

That delay can make it difficult for people to connect their illness to something they ate. A person may have a salad, fresh herbs, berries or another produce item at a family gathering and feel fine for several days. Nearly a week later, they may develop diarrhea, stomach cramps and fatigue without realizing the illness could be connected to food.

The most common symptom is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, gas, nausea and tiredness. Less common symptoms include vomiting, body aches, headache and low-grade fever. Without treatment, symptoms can last for days, weeks or longer, and they may appear to go away before returning.

This pattern is one reason people may dismiss cyclosporiasis as a stomach bug. But diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back or causes weakness should not be ignored.

How the Parasite Spreads

Cyclospora spreads when people eat food or drink water contaminated with feces containing the parasite. The FDA notes that cyclosporiasis occurs only in humans, and infected people can shed the parasite in their stool, even if they do not have symptoms. Without strong hygiene, safe water systems and food safety protections, the parasite can contaminate food, water and the environment.

Unlike some infections that spread easily from person to person, Cyclospora usually needs time in the environment before it becomes infectious. That means outbreaks are more often connected to contaminated food or water than direct contact with another sick person.

Fresh fruits and vegetables remain an important part of a healthy diet. But cyclosporiasis is a reminder that food safety matters at every step, from farms and processing facilities to grocery stores, restaurants and home kitchens.

What Families Can Do

Washing produce cannot guarantee that every parasite will be removed, but it is still an important step to reduce dirt and germs. The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables, rinsing fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking, scrubbing firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush, cutting away bruised or damaged areas and refrigerating cut, peeled or cooked produce within two hours.

People should also pay attention to food recalls and outbreak notices. If a product is named in a recall, do not eat it, even if some of it has already been consumed without anyone getting sick. Throw it away or follow the recall instructions from public health officials.

For Black, Latino and other communities of color, food safety is also a health equity issue. Many families rely on fresh produce, herbs and shared meals as part of cultural traditions and everyday healthy eating. But not everyone receives recall information quickly or in a language and format they can easily use. Clear communication from health officials, grocery stores, community organizations and local media can help families make informed choices without creating fear around healthy foods.

When to Call a Doctor

People should contact a healthcare provider if they have diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, symptoms that go away and return, signs of dehydration, or recent exposure to fresh produce during a reported outbreak. This is especially important for young children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.

Doctors can test for cyclosporiasis, but the test may need to be specifically requested because Cyclospora is not always found through routine stool testing. Treatment is available. The CDC says the treatment of choice is the prescription antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also known as TMP-SMX, and most healthy people recover, although illness can be prolonged without treatment.

The word cyclosporiasis may sound complicated, but the message is simple: pay attention to prolonged diarrhea, practice safe food handling and follow public health updates when outbreaks or recalls are announced.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are still good for health. Staying informed helps families enjoy them more safely.

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