Cyclosporiasis Cases Are Growing In New York

My father works in the produce industry, and let me tell you, it's not a pretty business. Every few months, some new outbreak happens and sends him into a frenzy.

One such outbreak has been battering New York, so we want to make sure you stay safe...

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What is Cyclosporiasis?

Since May 1st, over 400 cases of Cyclosporiasis have been reported in 29 states, with New York as one of the top states. Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic illness that attacks the small intestine, causing watery diarrhea and frequent, explosive bowel movements.

The illness can last from a few days to a little over a month. If it seems to be getting better, stay cautious, symptoms can disappear and then return without warning. Incubation period is a little weird as well. It can take anywhere from two days to two weeks in between getting infected and becoming sick.

How to Avoid It

Since Cyclospora (the parasite that causes Cyclosporiasis) is a parasite, that means it lives inside other organisms, in this case, food. It spreads when people eat or drink something that has come in contact with feces. Luckily, due to its incubation period, human-to-human transmission is an unlikely scenario.

A man washing raspberries

Obviously, the main way to avoid this is to avoid contaminated food, but following proper food safety measures like correct preparation and storage (washing fresh fruits, keeping cool foods refrigerated, etc.).

There are 120 confirmed cases in New York as of July 9th, 2026, and the food causing the illness has yet to be identified.