In parts of the country, clinicians are tracking scores of cases of sudden, explosive diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensi, and while the Georgia Department of Public Health reports no known outbreaks, 843 cases were reported by 31 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These people became sick after eating food in the United States and did not report any travel during the 14 days before they got sick.
“We assume a 6-week reporting lag between illness onset and case reporting to CDC; therefore, we anticipate that case counts will continue to rise as data are received,” the organization said.
CDC, along with state and federal health and regulatory officials, monitor cases of cyclosporiasis year-round to detect outbreaks linked to a common food source in the United States, but federal cuts could impact their success. By the end of 2025, between a quarter to a third of CDC employees had been terminated.
Georgia health officials are encouraging people to take extra precautions when purchasing, preparing, and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables to help prevent cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease.
“At this time, DPH is not aware of any Georgia-specific outbreaks, clusters, or potential links to the outbreak that has sickened more than a thousand people across multiple states,” the organization said in an email July 13.
Sick people ranged in age from 5 to 88 years, with a median age of 44, and 59% were female. The median illness onset date was June 18, 2026 (range: May 1 – July 5). Of 843 people with information available, 86 were hospitalized.
No deaths have been reported.
People can become infected by consuming food or water that contains the parasite. Treated water in the U.S. does not contain Cyclospora. Although domestically acquired cases occur in Georgia every year, typically most cyclosporiasis cases in the state are associated with international travel.
Cyclosporiasis can be prevented by following basic health hygiene practices when handling fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking
- Fruits and vegetables that are labeled “prewashed” do not need to be washed again at home
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours)
The most common symptom is watery diarrhea and explosive bowel movements. Bloating, cramping, or loss of appetite can also occur. Most people with cyclosporiasis recover on their own; however, hospitalizations can occur when patients are dehydrated from diarrhea caused by the infection. The illness may last from a few days to over a month. Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times. In extended cases, people are encouraged to check with their healthcare provider.
