Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. The parasite can be found in contaminated food or water that has traces of feces. The most prominent symptom is watery diarrhea with explosive bowel movements.
Since July 2026, more than 11,000 cases of Cyclosporiasis have been reported in Michigan and cases have been steadily increasing all over the country. Lettuce traced to Taco Bell restaurants, which was distributed by Taylor Farms, has been confirmed as a source of the diarrhea-causing parasite.
Refer to the CDC website about Cyclosporiasis and how to prevent/identify the symptoms.
-
Some Michigan farms say lettuce sales are booming, as the Cyclospora outbreak wreaks havoc around the country. -
Cyclospora — a microscopic parasite that produces prodigious poop problems — is on the decline in Michigan, the state health department says. -
Today on Stateside, we dove into the science of Cyclosporiasis, following the first reported deaths in a weeks-long outbreak. Plus, we heard about the role detection dogs are playing in moose research. Then, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow — once a contender for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination — joined us to talk about this week's primary upset. And, a report on the difficulties accessing healthcare inside a Michigan prison. -
State health officials say two people have died in the cyclospora outbreak in Michigan. They are the first confirmed deaths in the U.S. related to the microscopic parasite. -
The woman's lawsuit said she's immunocompromised and had to be hospitalized after eating some hard shell tacos with lettuce in early July. -
The FDA says lettuce distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms de Mexico is still linked to the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. But the source may be difficult to definitively trace. -
Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.
-
Michigan and several other states are dealing with a record surge in Cyclospora illnesses, a parasitic infection that causes (and almost every report includes this term) explosive diarrhea. -
Amid an outbreak of the intestinal illness Cyclosporiasis, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian — chief medical executive for the state of Michigan — shares best practices for avoiding the Cyclospora parasite, as well as info on testing and treatment.
-
The latest information and health guidance for the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan. Hearing about Michigan Public's new project covering this year's midterm election, The Mids. An episode of Points North about a mushroom forager.
