The national U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak ended weeks ago, but Florida cases just set a new record.
This year, an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection known for causing explosive diarrhea, officially ended on Sept. 11 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its investigation. Nearly 13,000 cases and two deaths were linked to iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico and distributed to 31 states through grocery stores, restaurants, and Taco Bell.
Cyclosporiasis generally spikes every year in the U.S. between May 1 and Aug. 31 as infected fecal matter makes its way onto fresh, summery produce such as herbs, berries, and lettuce. But Florida produces fresh produce all year, and cyclosporiasis cases in the Sunshine State are still
going up.
Florida reported 548 cases as of Oct. 10, setting a new record since the state health department started tracking it in 1995. Florida averages 246 cyclosporiasis cases annually, with some years reported as few as seven; the previous record was 543 in 2019.
None of Florida's cases have been officially linked to any outbreak, which means that rinsing your produce is still a good idea even when it's not in the news.
Florida's cyclosporiasis season keeps going
Cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that can cause frequent, watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms lasting for weeks, comes from eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces.
“We tend to see more cases during the warmer months because this is when fresh produce consumption increases and many of the fruits and vegetables associated with Cyclospora are widely available,” said Dr. Kami Kim, Chief of the Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, on the USF Health site.
Most of Florida's months are "warmer" months.
Last year, the state's health department reported 210 cases of cyclosporiasis. The bulk of them were reported in the summer, but eight were reported from January to April, and 33 from September to the end of the year.
Outbreak or not, Floridians should still practice good food safety habits, Dr. Kim said, including washing produce under running water before eating and refrigerating perishable foods promptly.
Cyclosporiasis cases in Florida
Florida reported 548 probable and confirmed cases in 2026 as of Oct. 10. Cases by county:
- Alachua County: 5
- Baker County: 1
- Bay County: 37
- Brevard County: 6
- Broward County: 35
- Charlotte County: 4
- Citrus County: 2
- Collier County: 8
- Columbia County: 1
- Duval County: 11
- Escambia County: 5
- Flagler County: 3
- Gadsden County: 1
- Gilchrist County: 1
- Hardee County: 2
- Hernando County: 2
- Highlands County: 2
- Hillsborough County: 19
- Indian River County: 1
- Jackson County: 3
- Lake County: 8
- Lee County: 42
- Leon County: 9
- Manatee County: 13
- Marion County: 5
- Martin County: 2
- Miami-Dade County: 61
- Monroe County: 3
- Nassau County: 2
- Okaloosa County: 9
- Orange County: 34
- Osceola County: 8
- Palm Beach County: 29
- Pasco County: 11
- Pinellas County: 20
- Polk County: 25
- Santa Rosa County: 6
- Sarasota County: 7
- Seminole County: 11
- St. Johns County: 13
- St. Lucie County: 5
- Sumter County: 2
- Volusia County: 14
- Wakulla County: 1
- Walton County: 4
What are the symptoms of cyclosporiasis?
According to the CDC, the most common symptom of cyclosporiasis is persistent, watery diarrhea that can last for days and even weeks.
Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Some people may also experience vomiting, body aches, headaches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms, while others may show no symptoms.
Symptoms can develop from two days to more than two weeks after infection. Anyone with persistent symptoms should contact a health care provider.
Who is most at risk from cyclosporiasis?
Anyone can become infected, but young children, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system are most vulnerable to complications.
"Most healthy people recover, but persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration and significant fatigue,” said Dr. Kim.
How to avoid cyclosporiasis
Fresh fruits and vegetables are still an essential part of a healthy diet, but good food safety habits are essential.
First, stay current with public health advisories so you're aware of any specific issues or contaminated foods in your area.
Fightbac.org offers more tips on avoiding foodborne illnesses:
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling food.
- Discard outer layers of fruits and vegetables when possible.
- Rinse produce thoroughly under clean running water. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce. (Note that rinsing alone does not completely eliminate Cyclospora)
- Use caution with pre-washed or pre-cut produce
- Cook produce when possible. Cyclospora cannot survive temperatures of at least 158 degrees.
- Avoid cross-contamination by cleaning kitchen surfaces, cutting boards, and utensils.
- Buy your produce from local growers, or grow it yourself.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida cyclosporiasis cases hit record high weeks after outbreak over
