The summer of 2026 has brought an unwelcome guest to the United States: Cyclospora, a parasite causing a significant outbreak of cyclosporiasis. This intestinal illness, characterized by watery diarrhea and stomach cramping has been linked to contaminated fresh produce, raising concerns among health authorities and the public alike.
The outbreak, first detected in May has since spread to 34 states with 1,645 confirmed cases reported by the CDC. However, local health authorities have reported higher numbers, with 5,000 cases in Michigan alone and 517 cases across New York state. The FDA has urged people to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants in several states, as investigations continue to identify the source of the contamination.
The Spread of Cyclospora: How It Happens
Cyclospora cayetanensis the parasite responsible for cyclosporiasis, spreads through contaminated water and food, particularly fresh produce. Unlike some other stomach bugs, Cyclospora is not immediately infectious when shed in stool. It requires time in the environment to mature before it can infect someone else, making direct person-to-person transmission less common.
Dr. Demetre Dakalakis, Chief Medical Officer for Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, emphasizes the importance of understanding how Cyclospora proliferates. “One important distinction is that Cyclospora is not immediately infectious when it is shed in stool,” he notes. “The parasite needs time in the environment to mature before it can infect someone else.”
Protecting Yourself: Best Practices for Handling Produce
While there is no foolproof way to completely eliminate Cyclospora from contaminated produce, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Thoroughly rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables before cutting, eating, or cooking them is crucial. For firm produce like cucumbers and melons or those with a skin like oranges and bananas, scrubbing with a produce brush can help.
Washing your hands before and after handling fresh produce is also an effective way to stay safe. Avoiding berries, shredded lettuce, salad greens, fresh herbs, and other uncooked leafy greens can further minimize the risk, as these have been linked to prior outbreaks. Pre-cut vegetables or packaged greens should also be rewashed and rinsed if you are considering eating them.
For those who want to be extra cautious, cooking your vegetables can kill Cyclospora, as they die at temperatures of 158 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Special Considerations for Those Working with Fresh Produce
Given that the food service industry is the largest employer of LGBTQ+ people, many queer and trans individuals interact with a high volume of fresh produce. Dr. Dakalakis advises that anyone who grows, handles, transports, sells, or prepares fresh produce should be especially diligent about hygiene and food-safety practices.
“Anyone who grows, handles, transports, sells, or prepares fresh produce should be especially diligent about hygiene and food-safety practices,” he says. “That means washing hands thoroughly after using the restroom, staying home when experiencing diarrheal illness, using safe water sources, and taking steps to prevent contamination of produce by human waste.”
Addressing Concerns About Sexual Transmission
There has been increased concern, especially among queer people, about whether cyclosporiasis can spread from person-to-person through sex, particularly if it involves the mouth and anus. Dr. Dakalakis addresses this concern, noting that while Cyclospora is not generally considered a sexually transmitted infection, good hygiene practices are still important.
“Any activity that involves exposure to feces (poop) can potentially increase the risk of enteric infections, other stomach bugs,” he says. “Good hygiene practices, including washing hands and the genital and anal area before and after sex, and avoiding sex when either partner has diarrhea or gastrointestinal symptoms, are good precautions for reducing exposure to a range of these infections.”
