Cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection recognized for causing severe, explosive diarrhea, have now been identified in 45 states. According to an update released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday, July 28, there have been 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases since May 1. This figure represents an increase of more than 2,500 infections since the agency's previous report on July 21, and a rise from 41 states to 45.
Beyond the confirmed laboratory reports, the CDC noted that there are more than 11,500 additional suspected cases, primarily concentrated in Michigan and Ohio, which have not yet received formal laboratory confirmation. The agency reported that there have been 423 hospitalizations related to the illness, though no deaths have been recorded to date.
Federal health authorities are currently investigating what they believe to be multiple, separate outbreaks of the parasite. The largest of these is centered in Michigan, which reported 9,680 cases on July 28. These state-level figures differ from the CDC data because they include infections that have not yet been submitted for federal laboratory verification. This primary outbreak has been linked to iceberg lettuce produced by Taylor Farms in central Mexico, leading the company to issue a recall on July 17.
The CDC emphasized that the actual scale of the infection is likely higher than current data suggests. "Cyclosporiasis cases may not be limited to these states with known cases," the agency stated. "The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis was likely higher than the number reported. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora."
