More than 400 people across 18 states have gotten sick from a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis in an ongoing U.S. outbreak, The New York Times reported on July 2, 2026. The official count from the CDC is 145 confirmed cases as of late June, but the higher number shows how many more people are likely infected — test results are slow to come back and many cases haven't been officially reported yet.

People started getting sick in early May and cases are still appearing. Florida and Georgia are among the states affected. The CDC is actively investigating.

What is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a tiny parasite too small to see without a microscope. It lives inside human cells and causes an illness called cyclosporiasis. The main symptom is severe watery diarrhea that can last for weeks without medicine. People also feel nauseous, tired, and lose weight. The standard treatment is an antibiotic called trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

The parasite leaves your body through waste. But it can't infect someone else right away — it needs days or weeks sitting in the environment to become infectious. This tells investigators that sick people ate something contaminated, not that they caught it from another person.

Where Does It Come From?

Cyclospora outbreaks in America almost always come from imported fresh produce, especially vegetables. Cilantro from Mexico has been the culprit in several major outbreaks since the 1990s. Raspberries, basil, snow peas, and pre-packaged salad mixes have also been traced to past outbreaks.

The timing of this outbreak — cases starting in May and building through June — matches when fresh spring vegetables arrive in stores. No specific food has been named as the source yet.

The Race to Find the Source

Investigators have to act fast. Produce moves through stores and restaurants quickly, so records get thrown away. The longer they wait, the harder it becomes to trace where the contaminated food came from. If it's a common item like cilantro or bagged salad, finding which farm, distributor, or store is responsible gets harder every day. The FDA, which oversees produce safety, hasn't announced a source or issued a recall yet.

Behind the scenes, investigators are likely making progress, but the results stay private until they have enough proof to act. If this outbreak reaches 400 confirmed cases, it will be among the largest Cyclospora outbreaks in recent U.S. history. In 2013, there were roughly 643 confirmed cases across 25 states. In 2018, over 2,000 people got sick from contaminated vegetable trays, traced to Del Monte Fresh Produce.

What Should You Do?

If you have had watery diarrhea for more than a few days — especially if you ate fresh herbs or vegetables recently — see a doctor and ask for a Cyclospora test. Regular stool tests won't find it; you need a specific test called an ova-and-parasite exam with acid-fast staining.