Michigan Leads Cyclosporiasis Outbreak with Record Cases

Health officials in Michigan have identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source of a significant cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting thousands across the United States. The illness stems from a parasite, cyclospora, which spreads through food and water contaminated with feces.

Officials issued a statement Monday, indicating lettuce and salad greens as a possible cause of the outbreak. However, they cautioned that other food items could also be responsible. No specific grower or supplier has been linked to the outbreak yet.

As of Monday evening, Michigan reported 2,640 cases with 44 hospitalizations. This marks a 69 percent increase from the previous Friday’s figures and the highest yearly case count recorded in the state, which typically sees only 40 to 50 cases annually.

Michigan currently has the most cyclospora infections in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several states including New York, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky are also experiencing a higher than usual number of cases. The CDC reports at least 843 confirmed illnesses across 31 states, with 86 hospitalizations.

Health experts believe the CDC figures may be an undercount due to delays in state reporting and confirmation by the agency. The New York Times has independently confirmed at least 4,800 cases this year. Since 2016, the CDC has averaged about 2,800 cases annually nationwide.

Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that 2026 is likely to record the highest number of cyclosporiasis cases in U.S. history.