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New cyclospora parasite cases in Ohio drop sharply amid US outbreak
The Columbus Dispatch • • health
Key Points:
- New cyclosporiasis cases in Ohio are decreasing, with 70 new cases reported this week, marking a 75% drop from last week's 279 cases amid a nationwide outbreak.
- Ohio and Michigan are the hardest-hit states, with Ohio reporting 6,412 cases across 85 counties and Michigan reporting 14,718 cases including two deaths as of early September 2026.
- The nationwide outbreak, linked to recalled iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms in central Mexico, has caused over 10,000 cases and 454 hospitalizations across 17 states.
- Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include explosive watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, cramping, and fatigue, typically appearing about a week after infection and lasting from days to over a month without treatment.
- The CDC advises prevention through avoiding contaminated food and water and practicing safe food handling, especially with produce, as the illness is diagnosed via stool sample testing.
