Parsley, Cilantro Potential Sources of Cyclospora in NC

Key Points:

• North Carolina has reported 561 cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1, nearly double the total cases recorded in 2025, with parsley, cilantro, and lettuce repeatedly mentioned by infected individuals as possible sources.
• State health officials emphasized that the outbreak in North Carolina does not appear related to a separate large cluster linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in other states.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating six cyclosporiasis outbreaks this summer, including one with at least 72 cases linked to an unidentified product, but has not confirmed any sources aside from the Taco Bell lettuce outbreak.
• It remains unclear whether the North Carolina cases are connected to any of the FDA’s ongoing investigations, and both state and federal agencies have yet to definitively identify the source of the outbreak in North Carolina.
• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has sent hundreds of clinical specimens to the CDC for genetic analysis, which has identified some clusters but is still ongoing due to the complexity and time required for molecular testing.