This year’s spread of Cyclospora — better known as the ‘explosive diarrhea parasite’ — is a symptom of federal budget cuts and a scary vision of how America deals with a health crisis in the future. The microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis causes cyclosporiasis, an illness characterized by watery, explosive diarrhea, nausea, cramping, and severe dehydration. As of mid-July 2026, the CDC has confirmed 1,645 cases since May 1 and is aware of at least 5,100 additional cases requiring analysis. Michigan leads with 2,640 cases, and infections have been reported in 34 states. Federal and state officials are investigating a potential link to salad greens, with Taco Bell voluntarily recalling lettuce, cilantro, onion, pico de gallo, and guacamole at some locations.
The outbreak highlights longstanding challenges in tracking Cyclospora. The parasite has a long incubation period (two days to two weeks) and symptoms can wax and wane. Standard diarrhea tests do not detect it, and many infected individuals do not receive proper testing. At urgent care, patients like Bryan, a food broker from Michigan, were prescribed Bactrim without confirmation because labs were backlogged. “She told me the labs were so backed up in Michigan that they can’t even keep up with the amount of people,” he said. The actual number of cases is almost certainly an undercount.
Federal budget cuts have compounded the problem. In July 2025, the CDC scaled back the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), which tracked eight pathogens including Cyclospora in partnership with 10 state health departments. FoodNet stopped requiring states to track most of those pathogens due to financial constraints. “Essentially, CDC is backing off on one of their best surveillance systems,” said Dr. J. Glenn Morris, director of the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida. Additionally, the FDA lost more than 240 consumer safety specialists last year amid cuts to federal health agencies.
Despite these cuts, CDC officials insist that national surveillance for Cyclospora remains unchanged. “The data that we have for cyclosporiasis for this outbreak is the same as we’ve had for all the other seasons,” said Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases. However, experts note that FoodNet was a sentinel system, not the primary tool for outbreak detection. The primary detection relies on state-level reporting, which varies in capacity.
Investigating Cyclospora outbreaks is notoriously difficult. “Cyclospora outbreaks are among the most challenging foodborne outbreaks to investigate,” said Rodney E. Rohde, program chair of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University. The parasite’s long incubation period and short produce shelf life make it hard to identify the contaminated food. Even when a culprit is found, testing is difficult because pathogens are often present in low numbers and unevenly distributed. Contaminated lots may no longer be available once illnesses are recognized.
Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, emphasized that investigations take time. “It’s not uncommon that it can take multiple days, especially if there’s more than one product that’s involved,” she said. “There are a lot of folks who are working on this investigation, and it’s a good demonstration around why we do need epidemiologists and disease detectives to have some support and protect our food supply.”
The CDC has identified an epidemiologic link between Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, but the source remains unknown. They are not yet recommending that people avoid specific foods. However, given historical links to leafy greens, some experts suggest caution. Previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been traced to bagged salads, snow peas, raspberries, and herbs like cilantro. In 2020, a multistate outbreak linked to Fresh Express salads sickened over 640 people.
In the absence of official guidance, the public has turned to social media for information. Reddit threads are filled with people sharing symptoms, treatments, and speculation. Some conspiracy theories suggest the government is protecting farmers or distributors, but experts say the reality is more mundane: agencies need more data before making hasty recommendations.
Rodney Rohde stressed that prevention depends on reducing contamination during production, not in the home. For now, he advises avoiding raw greens, especially in high-caseload areas, and practicing thorough washing. “Vegetables and fruits are obviously important to a nutritious diet,” he said, “BUT one should be cautious and pay attention to ongoing local, state, and federal health reports for your geographic locale.”
Bryan, now nearly a week into his recovery, is feeling better but warns others: “I wish this on no one.” His ordeal included Preparation H wipes and countless trips to the bathroom every 15 to 30 minutes. The outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of underfunded public health systems and the difficulty of tracking a resilient parasite.
Source: The Verge News