Bug of the Month!

🦠 Bug of the Month: Cyclospora- The Tiny Parasite Making Big News

Meet this month's bug: Cyclospora! It is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis — and right now, it's making a lot of noise.

Why is it "popular" right now?
Cyclosporiasis case counts typically climb during spring and summer, with the CDC marking May 1 through August 31 as the annual "cyclosporiasis season." But this year is anything but typical: over 6,700 confirmed or probable cases have been reported nationwide so far in 2026, compared to just 2,700 cases in all of 2025. Michigan and Ohio have seen a growing outbreak now topping 3,000 cases, with investigators suspecting lettuce or salad greens as a likely source, though no specific grower or product has been officially confirmed.

What is it?
Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite spread through food or water contaminated with human stool. Good news: it doesn't spread person-to-person like a cold, since the parasite needs time in the environment before it becomes infectious.

What does it feel like?
Symptoms usually start about a week after exposure (range: 2–14 days) and include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes low-grade fever. Left untreated, symptoms can linger — or come and go — for weeks.

How can you protect yourself?

• Washing produce under running water is still good practice, but it won't reliably remove Cyclospora — its tough outer shell resists water and chemical produce washes.
• Cooking is the only method proven to kill it. Heat produces to at least 158°F when possible.
• For raw greens, choose whole heads over pre-washed bags and discard outer leaves.
• See a provider if diarrhea lasts more than a few days, about a week after eating fresh leafy greens or other raw produce — diagnosis requires a specific stool test and is treated with prescription antibiotics. 

Fun facts!
Cyclospora is only about 8–10 micrometers across—roughly one-tenth the width of a human hair! Tiny enough to be invisible to the naked eye, but capable of causing weeks of illness. Remember: fresh is healthy, but taking a few extra moments to wash your produce is one of the easiest ways to help keep this summer bug off your plate!