HEALTH & WELLNESS
Information, Prevention & Quality of Life
By Dr. Laura Méndez
Health Analyst
The Sun Post News
October 2, 2026
It is not a virus. It is not a bacterium.
It is a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis, and in 2026 it became responsible for one of the year’s most remarkable foodborne illness stories in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19,883 domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis were reported during the 2026 surveillance season, resulting in 1,064 hospitalizations and two deaths.
To understand how unusual that number is, consider the comparison:
During the same reporting period in 2025, the CDC recorded 1,180 cases.
That means confirmed cases in 2026 were approximately 17 times higher.
And Florida was not disconnected from the story.
Iceberg lettuce associated with the season’s largest outbreak was distributed in Florida and numerous other states.
The specific outbreak, however, has ended. Federal health officials say the implicated products are no longer available in stores or restaurants.
So this is not a warning to stop eating salads.
Instead, it is an opportunity to understand a parasite many Americans have probably never heard of — and why even fresh fruits and vegetables can sometimes transmit disease.
What Is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis.
People become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite.
Unlike some gastrointestinal infections, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely.
There is an interesting biological reason.
After the parasite is passed in the stool of an infected person, it generally needs days or even weeks in the environment before becoming infectious.
That is why clusters of cases often lead investigators to search for a common contaminated food or water source.
An Extraordinary Year
Between May 1 and August 31, the CDC reported 19,883 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired infections.
Cases were reported across 49 states and the District of Columbia.
Patients ranged in age from one to 99 years, with a median age of 46.
Women accounted for approximately 56% of cases and men 44%.
More than 1,000 people were hospitalized.
And the actual number of infections was probably higher.
Many people with relatively mild gastrointestinal symptoms never seek medical attention and therefore are never tested.
There is also a significant delay between the time someone becomes sick and when that illness is eventually incorporated into national surveillance statistics.
The Lettuce Behind the Largest Outbreak
Investigators were eventually able to connect a major portion of the season’s illnesses to a specific food.
Epidemiologic and traceback investigations linked a large multistate outbreak to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico.
The company recalled affected lettuce in July.
By the conclusion of the epidemiologic investigation, the CDC had identified 12,883 illnesses across 21 states, including 570 hospitalizations and two deaths associated with that outbreak.
The FDA confirmed that recalled products had been distributed to numerous states, including Florida.
The affected lettuce also moved through different distribution and food-service channels.
Eventually, all use-by dates for the recalled products passed, and federal officials determined that the implicated lettuce was no longer available for sale or service.
The CDC declared the outbreak over on September 11.
That distinction is important.
Federal health authorities are not currently telling Florida residents to stop eating iceberg lettuce.
The products implicated in this particular outbreak are no longer on the market.
Diarrhea That Can Go Away — and Return
Cyclosporiasis can easily be mistaken for other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Its most common symptom is watery diarrhea.
People may also experience loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue.
Less commonly, patients can develop vomiting, body aches, headaches and low-grade fever.
Symptoms generally begin about a week after infection, although the interval can range from a few days to two weeks or longer.
One particularly frustrating characteristic is that symptoms can appear to improve and then return.
Without treatment, illness can persist for weeks.
Fatigue may continue even after gastrointestinal symptoms resolve.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Anyone consuming contaminated food or water can become infected.
However, prolonged diarrhea can be especially concerning for older adults, children and people with weakened immune systems.
One of the primary dangers is dehydration.
People experiencing persistent watery diarrhea should consider contacting a healthcare professional, particularly if symptoms are severe or follow a known foodborne exposure.
There is another important issue.
Routine stool testing does not always include testing for Cyclospora.
When the infection is suspected, healthcare professionals may need to specifically request testing for the parasite.
How Does Fresh Produce Become Contaminated?
When Americans think about foodborne disease, raw meat, poultry and eggs often come to mind.
Fresh produce can also become contaminated.
Contamination can occur at different points along the food chain — during growing, through contaminated water, during harvesting, processing, transportation or preparation.
In the case of Cyclospora, contamination ultimately involves human fecal material reaching food or water.
Historically, U.S. outbreaks have been associated with various types of fresh produce, including basil, cilantro, lettuce, parsley, raspberries and peas.
That does not mean consumers should stop eating these foods.
Fruits and vegetables remain an essential part of a healthy diet.
The appropriate response is stronger food safety, not eliminating nutritious foods.
Can Washing Lettuce Remove Cyclospora?
This is one of the most important lessons for consumers.
Washing fresh produce can reduce risk, but it cannot guarantee the complete removal of Cyclospora.
The CDC recommends thoroughly rinsing fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.
Firm produce can be scrubbed with a clean produce brush.
Damaged or bruised areas should be removed, and cut or peeled produce should be refrigerated promptly.
But even proper washing cannot guarantee that a contaminated raw vegetable is completely free of the parasite.
Cooking does kill Cyclospora.
The CDC notes that heating produce to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit — 70 degrees Celsius — destroys the parasite.
Of course, many vegetables used in salads are eaten raw.
That means prevention must begin long before the food reaches a family’s kitchen.
There Is No “Miracle Wash”
Fear of microorganisms can also lead consumers toward unnecessary practices.
Fruits and vegetables should be cleaned with running water.
Household soap and detergents should not be used to wash produce.
Handwashing before and after handling food and preventing cross-contamination from raw meat remain basic but important food-safety measures.
Consumers should also pay attention to official food recalls.
When authorities identify a contaminated product, simply washing it does not necessarily make that product safe.
Recalled food should be discarded or returned according to official instructions.
Why Diagnosis Can Be Missed
Cyclosporiasis creates another challenge for doctors and patients.
Someone may experience diarrhea for days and assume it is simply a “stomach bug.”
The actual cause may never be identified.
The CDC notes that diagnosing Cyclospora can be difficult and that specific laboratory testing may be necessary.
Patients experiencing prolonged symptoms should tell healthcare professionals about recent foods, travel and possible exposure to known outbreaks or recalls.
That information can help determine which tests are appropriate.
Cyclosporiasis can be treated.
The commonly recommended treatment is a combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, but treatment decisions should be made by a qualified healthcare professional based on the individual patient.
Antibiotics should not be taken without appropriate medical guidance.
Should Floridians Be Worried Now?
The extraordinary 2026 numbers require context.
The major outbreak associated with iceberg lettuce is over.
The recalled products are no longer being sold.
And the nearly 20,000 cases reported nationally do not represent 20,000 people who are currently sick.
Those figures represent illnesses occurring during the surveillance season that were subsequently reported to federal health authorities.
Because diagnosis and reporting take time, national numbers can continue changing after people have recovered.
The broader public-health message is more important:
2026 was an exceptional year for Cyclospora in the United States.
Understanding what happened may help prevent future outbreaks.
What This Means for Florida
For Florida families, the story carries particular relevance.
Fresh fruits, vegetables and salads are consumed throughout the year. Florida also has a large tourism economy, international connections and an extensive restaurant and food-service industry.
And products associated with this summer’s outbreak were distributed in the state.
None of that means Floridians should distrust fresh produce.
It means fresh-food safety deserves the same attention traditionally given to meat, poultry and eggs.
Five habits remain valuable:
Wash your hands before preparing food.
Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water.
Refrigerate cut produce promptly.
Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.
And pay attention to official food recalls and public-health alerts.
When a Healthy Salad Can Make You Sick
The lesson from America’s extraordinary Cyclospora season is not that salads are dangerous.
It is that “fresh” does not automatically mean “free of microorganisms.”
Food safety begins on the farm.
It continues through processing, transportation, restaurants and supermarkets.
Only then does it reach our kitchens.
Consumers are the final link in a much larger food-safety chain.
The thousands of infections reported in 2026 demonstrate what can happen when contamination occurs long before food reaches the dinner table.
The takeaway for Florida families is simple:
Eating healthy also means eating safely.
