What is Cyclosporiasis?
Whom does it affect, and why should you care?
By Cash Michaels –
For the past several weeks, they’ve called it the spreading intestinal disease.
It’s causing “explosive diarrhea” in several states across the country, including North Carolina. In fact, our state has become prominent in the number of new Cyclosporiasis cases that have been reported.
But for the first time, two deaths have now been associated with the outbreak, as Michigan health authorities reported Monday that two people with “significant underlying health conditions” fell victim because of stomach illness and dehydration.
As of August 4, according to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, our state has reported 867 cases (494 cases in Wake County alone, home to Winston-Salem, and nine cases in Guilford, home to Greensboro) since May 2026. There have been 149 new cases since the end of July, 33 hospitalizations, and nine new hospitalizations since the last report.
So what exactly is Cyclosporiasis and why should African Americans be concerned?
Again, according to the NCDHHS, the number of cases in the state and across the nation is on the rise. Its website reads, “The illness is caused by a parasite called cyclospora. People get sick when they eat or drink food or water that is contaminated with the parasite. Past outbreaks were linked to fresh produce (lettuce, fruit, and fresh herbs).”
The produce becomes contaminated when it comes in contact with either wastewater or someone who has handled the food without washing their hands after a bathroom break. Once consumed, it can take at least a week to cause the explosive diarrhea. Depending on your health, that can result in dehydration, loss of appetite, cramping, low-grade fever, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss.
There is no human-to-human transmission.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if you do become symptomatic with frequent gastrointestinal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite, please be aware that it can last from a few days to months. Also, it may go away—or become asymptomatic—for a few days, only to come back.
As reported by national news outlets, the source of the outbreak has allegedly been traced to a California-based company in Central Mexico called Taylor Farms, which reportedly supplies iceberg lettuce to the Taco Bell fast food chain.
But here in North Carolina, according to Newsweek, health officials ”…have indicated that they do not believe cyclospora cases in the state are connected to the Taco Bell outbreak, and likely have several sources.”
The outbreak is currently affecting 45 states. The CDC has confirmed over 6,707 in its laboratory, but over 11,000 cases have been reported overall, with 198 hospitalizations, and the numbers are still growing.
So how do you protect yourself and your family from the cyclospora outbreak?
Thoroughly wash what you eat if it’s raw. No bagged salads. Remove outer iceberg lettuce leaves in food preparation, and wash the inside ones. And pay attention to the latest reports from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services at www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/blog/2026/07/14/cyclosporiasis-north-carolina-what-it-and-how-stay-safe.
