Cyclospora outbreak under investigation across 20 U.S. states

Federal and state health officials are investigating a Cyclospora outbreak that CDC-linked reporting says has sickened 145 people across 20 U.S. states, with 20 hospitalizations and no deaths reported so far.

The cases were reported among patients ages 5 to 86 between May and June 16, according to reporting published June 30. Investigators have not identified the food source, but the lack of recent travel among patients points health officials toward a domestic exposure rather than infections picked up abroad.

What investigators know

Cyclospora cayetanensis causes cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness that is often tied to contaminated food or water. In the U.S., outbreaks have frequently been linked to fresh produce, which is why investigators are focusing on possible food exposures.

The reporting says CDC and FDA are tracking multiple clusters, not just one isolated event. That leaves open the possibility that the 20 states are seeing one shared outbreak, several related outbreaks, or more than one source still under review.

The New York Post report cited CDC data showing the outbreak count at 145 cases as of June 16. It also said 20 people had been hospitalized, underscoring that this is more than a mild public-health event even though no deaths had been reported.

Timeline and scope

The investigation window appears to have begun in May 2026. The June 30 reporting marks the first widely visible public account of the multistate cluster, while the most recent confirmed case window cited in that report ended on June 16.

A separate June 30 People report described a cyclosporiasis cluster in Monroe County, Michigan, where local health officials warned residents about produce safety while investigators looked for a common exposure. It is not yet clear whether that local cluster is part of the same multistate investigation or a separate event.

Why Cyclospora matters

Cyclospora infections can cause watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, bloating and low-grade fever. Because the parasite is commonly associated with produce contamination, public-health investigations often turn quickly to traceback work on fruits and vegetables.

Monroe County health officials advised residents to wash fruits and vegetables under clean running water, cut away damaged parts and refrigerate produce soon after purchase. Those precautions do not eliminate every risk, but they are standard advice while investigators try to identify the source.

What happens next

The key unanswered question is the common source, if there is one. Investigators still need to determine whether the outbreak is tied to a widely distributed item, how the states are connected, and how many cases are laboratory-confirmed versus probable.

Officials are also watching for additional hospitalizations, any deaths, and potential recall or advisory notices if traceback work identifies a suspect food. Until then, the outbreak remains an active federal and state investigation.

For now, the public-health picture is clear on the basics: a growing Cyclospora cluster, no travel link, no identified source, and a coordinated effort by CDC, FDA and state officials to find where the infections are coming from.