03/07/2026 02:48 PM

US CDC Investigates 145 Cyclosporiasis Cases Across 17 States

LOS ANGELES, July 3 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The United States (US) Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 145 domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis across 17 states so far this year, and has been investigating potential clusters and potential sources of infection, reported Xinhua.

According to the CDC, cyclosporiasis is caused by several species of the microscopic parasite Cyclospora, and is a nationally notifiable disease.

People can become infected by consuming food or water that contains the parasite.

The 145 reported cases involved people who became ill between May 1 and June 16 after acquiring the infection in the US.

Of the 145 patients with available information, 20 were hospitalised, and no deaths have been reported, according to a CDC surveillance update on Wednesday.

The patients became sick after eating food in the US and reported no travel outside the country during the 14 days before illness onset.

The CDC said there is currently no evidence of a single, multistate Cyclospora outbreak linking all cases. Rather, the figure represents a nationwide surveillance count.

The cyclosporiasis season is considered to run from May 1 through Aug. 31, when case numbers typically increase, the agency said.

People infected with Cyclospora may or may not experience symptoms.

Cyclospora infects the small intestine and usually causes watery diarrhoea with frequent and sometimes "explosive" bowel movements, according to the CDC.

Although the illness can be prolonged if left untreated, it is generally not life-threatening.

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA 

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