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Cyclosporiasis Update Our Community - Posted 8/12/2026

You have probably seen the news about a parasite called Cyclospora causing severe diarrhea across the country.

The good news first: Washington is not part of this outbreak. We are seeing slightly more cases than usual this summer, however, most of these cases were infected while traveling.

The worst part of this outbreak has been in the Midwest. Michigan has now reported more than 11,000 cases and two deaths. Deaths from this infection are uncommon, but severe diarrhea can lead to significant dehydration. Public health investigation traced a large cluster of cases to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico, which was recalled on July 17. That lettuce was not distributed to Washington, and we have not issued any recall or safety alert here.

So, the question is: what does this outbreak mean for what we eat in Washington?

I continue to recommend people eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The standard food safety advice remains important: Rinse produce under running water, wash your hands before handling food, and keep fresh produce away from raw meat. If you want more protection, particularly if you're immunocompromised, choose produce you can peel or cook.

If you have watery diarrhea that continues for more than a few days, see your doctor and consider testing for Cyclospora. The other good news is that it is very treatable.

We will continue to watch this and will change our guidance if the food picture in Washington is impacted.

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