The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively investigating the spread of a parasitic illness affecting various states. This illness, known as cyclosporiasis, has resulted in at least 145 reported cases across 17 states. Of those affected, around 20 individuals have required hospitalization due to severe symptoms.
Public health teams are focusing their investigations on clusters of cases reported in New York, Illinois, and Texas. Data from the CDC, verified on May 1, 2026, shows New York as the state most impacted, with between 31 and 80 individuals sick since the outbreak began.
Other states linked to this outbreak include Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin, according to reports.
Cyclosporiasis is a type of foodborne illness caused by a parasite. It typically spreads through the consumption of contaminated food or water. The CDC notes that, although not usually life-threatening, the illness can cause severe symptoms. People often experience cramps, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. The most common symptom is “watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements.” Without antibiotic treatment, the infection can last anywhere from a few days to over a month, with symptoms potentially recurring.
The age range of those infected spans from 5 to 86 years old, with an average age of 42. The CDC emphasizes a higher infection risk in tropical or subtropical areas where the parasite is prevalent. In this current outbreak, only 45 individuals had traveled outside the United States before falling ill. This has led health officials to suspect that the source of the outbreak is foodborne, though the exact origin remains unidentified.
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