Cyclosporiasis Cases Increase In MD As Common Link Still Unknown

The Maryland Department of Health reported on Wednesday a new increase in cyclosporiasis in the state, with the confirmed number jumping to a total of 110 cases.

The uptick indicates 41 new cases when compared against the previous week's figures.

Of the total, officials said 106 were recorded between May 1 and July 21. According to the MDH, 27 cases were acquired within the U.S. and 47 had international traces. Another 36 cases are pending further investigation.

Last week, the state announced that domestic cases had doubled.

State health officials previously told Patch they would begin issuing weekly updates of its cyclosporiasis case count due to public interest in the illness.

Cyclosporiasis is a disease characterized by watery, explosive diarrhea that is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite that can contaminate fresh produce. It can be contracted by consuming contaminated foods or water. Foods linked to past outbreaks have included a mix of greens and vegetables, such as parsley, broccoli and cilantro.

It cannot be spread person to person, as the parasite is passed through bowel movements and can take days or weeks before becoming infectious.

In addition to watery diarrhea, other symptoms include appetite loss, weight loss, cramping, bloating, flu-like symptoms, vomiting, and body aches, among others. Symptoms vary from person to person and can appear up to 14 days after contracting cyclosporiasis.

National Outbreak Timeline

In 2026, Cyclospora has sickened at least 1,645 people in the U.S. and hospitalized 141, according to the FDA and CDC. The agencies are investigating five separate clusters of illnesses, including one traced to Taylor Farms.

However, the CDC said that its information is lagging behind state counts.

Michigan is reporting the highest number of cases — 5,002 people and 102 hospitalizations — in the country, leading health officials to believe the state's case numbers alone likely make it the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history.

Here's a timeline of the outbreak, compiled by USA Today:

• May 1: The CDC says this is the date the cyclosporiasis outbreak begins.
• June 22: Median illness onset date, according to the CDC (range from May 1 to July 9).
• July 1: First Ohio cases of cyclosporiasis reported in Lucas and Monroe Counties.
• July 9: Taco Bell removes some ingredients from its menu in response to cyclosporiasis spread.
• July 14: The CDC links the cyclosporiasis outbreak and cases in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia
• July 16: Cyclosporiasis cases in Ohio more than triple, with 1,192 cases confirmed by ODH.
• July 17: FDA warns consumers about eating Taco Bell lettuce.
• July 17: Taco Bell completely removes Taylor Farms lettuce from its menu.
• July 18: FDA announces nationwide recall of Taylor Farms lettuce sold at Walmart as well as lettuce distributed to food service suppliers.
• July 19: FDA reports Taylor Farms' 'false positive' for cyclosporiasis.
• July 21: Health Secretary Robert Kennedy says cyclospora outbreak is "under control."

Searching For The Source

The CDC is still searching for a definitive culprit in the outbreak and remains focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a multistate outbreak, despite inaccurate test results that the government briefly publicized over the weekend.

On Sunday, the FDA issued an apology after a laboratory test incorrectly identified a positive result for Cyclospora on a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms.

However, the acting FDA commissioner said on a Monday press call that the false positive and the apology "do not change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms," according to multiple reports.

A rise in cases of the parasite was initially linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell locations. On Saturday, Taylor Farms announced it was recalling 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes. The products are used by a number of U.S. food chains and suppliers.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Related:

• Parasite Outbreak May Be Linked To Fast Food Chain As MD Cases Double
• Cases Of Diarrhea-Causing Parasite Reported In MD: What To Know
• Taylor Farms Lettuce Sample Provided 'False Positive' For Cyclospora, FDA Says