Updated July 9, 2026: Michigan’s fast-growing Cyclospora outbreak now includes 1,251 cases, up from 170 on June 30th and 992 on July 8th, according to an update this morning from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. And with state and federal health officials still scrambling to identify the contaminated food source, other states, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, and Texas, are also reporting surges in Cyclospora cases.
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Quick Facts About This Michigan Cyclospora Outbreak
- Reported illnesses: 1,251 cyclosporiasis cases have now been reported. MDHHS says the count reflects cases reported during the outbreak investigation period and may change as more information becomes available.
- Largest increase: Southeast Michigan.
- Counties reporting the highest case numbers: Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland, and Livingston.
- Suspected general vehicle: Fresh produce, but no specific produce type, grower, supplier, or brand has been identified.
- Main symptom: Frequent bouts of watery diarrhea, which can be explosive and may relapse.
- What to do: Contact a healthcare provider, ask about Cyclospora stool testing, report to your local health department if diagnosed, and save purchase records. Then contact an experienced food poisoning attorney if you think contaminated food sold or served by a company made you sick.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a parasite native to tropical climates that causes illness when people consume food or water contaminated with human feces containing it. Outbreaks are frequently associated with fresh produce.
Humans are the only known species that the parasite Cyclospora infects. In the U.S., non-travel-related cases are frequently linked to imported produce. Previous Cyclospora outbreaks have been linked to bagged salad, cilantro, basil, snow peas, and berries.
What are the Symptoms of a Cyclospora Infection?
Symptoms of a Cyclospora infection, called cyclosporiasis, usually appear within 1 to 14 days of exposure. They can seem to improve and then return, making it hard for people to work, travel, care for children, attend school, or keep up with daily responsibilities. Without treatment, cyclosporiasis symptoms can last for months.
They include:
- Frequent bouts of watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea.
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Stomach cramps or abdominal pain
- Bloating and increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue that can be severe
- Vomiting, body aches, headache, or low-grade fever in some patients
Usually, these infections are not life-threatening, but dehydration from symptoms can cause severe illness, especially among children, seniors, and those with weakened immune systems.
How is Cyclosporiasis Diagnosed and Treated?
Diagnosis usually requires a stool sample. If you have sudden, ongoing diarrhea and may be part of the Michigan outbreak, tell your healthcare provider about the outbreak and ask whether Cyclospora testing should be ordered. Some stool tests do not automatically look for Cyclospora unless the provider or laboratory specifically considers it.
The CDC’s clinical care guidance states that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, often called TMP-SMX, is the treatment of choice. Treatment decisions belong to your healthcare provider, especially if you have medication allergies, pregnancy concerns, immune system issues, dehydration, kidney disease, or other medical risks.
People at higher risk of dehydration or serious illness, including young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, should be especially careful about prolonged diarrhea and fluid loss.
What Should You Do if You Develop Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis?
If you think you may be part of this outbreak, take these steps now:
- Get medical care and testing. Tell your provider about the Michigan Cyclospora outbreak and ask whether stool testing for Cyclospora is appropriate. Standard parasite testing may not include Cyclospora, and the MDHHS provider bulletin advises providers to ensure the stool order specifically targets Cyclospora.
- Report a positive diagnosis. If you test positive, make sure the health department is notified. Public health interviews help investigators find the source.
- Write a food history. List produce, salads, herbs, berries you ate at home, restaurants, catered meals, workplace meals, school or event meals, and travel during the two weeks before symptoms began.
- Save purchase records. Keep receipts, grocery receipts, loyalty-card records, delivery-app orders, restaurant receipts, credit-card statements, photos of packaging, product labels, and store notices.
- Save medical and wage records. Keep bills, prescription receipts, discharge papers, messages with providers, missed-work records, and notes about symptom days.
- Talk to a Cyclospora attorney early. Evidence can disappear quickly in produce cases. A lawyer can help identify stores, suppliers, restaurants, and records that may connect your illness to the outbreak.
What Happened in the Michigan Cyclospora Outbreak?
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and local health departments are investigating this outbreak.
MDHHS announced the outbreak on July 1, 2026, after more than 170 cyclosporiasis cases were reported in Michigan in nine days. In an average year, Michigan usually sees a total of 50 cases.
In its July 9 update, MDHHS reported 1,251 cases, up from more than 170 on June 30. Local reporting has Monroe County with the highest number of cases and Washtenaw County second.
Earlier MDHHS updates identified Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland, Ingham and Livingston counties as among the counties with the highest reported case numbers. Newer reporting says cases have now been reported in 34 Michigan counties, with Monroe County reporting the most cases and Washtenaw County second. Because county totals are changing quickly, patients should check MDHHS and local health department updates for the latest case distribution.
State officials also issued additional prevention recommendations for people and commercial kitchens handling raw produce, especially in Southeast Michigan. The public health investigation is still important because fresh produce supply chains can involve growers, packing houses, processors, distributors, grocery chains, restaurants, and foodservice vendors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks non-travel-related cases each year. Between May 1, 2026, and June 16, 2026, 145 cases in 17 states were reported, and 20 people had been hospitalized. CDC cautions that its national surveillance count is not evidence of one single multistate outbreak; public health officials are investigating several clusters and potential sources. Michigan’s rapidly rising state count is therefore best described separately from CDC’s national surveillance total unless CDC issues a new combined update.
Separately, FDA’s CORE outbreak table lists Cyclospora investigations involving not-yet-identified products, but those federal entries do not yet identify a specific food source or confirm a public recall tied to the Michigan outbreak.
What Other States are Reporting Surges in Cyclospora Infections?
Ohio
On July 2, the Ohio Department of Health is reporting 177 cyclosporiasis cases in the state in 2026. All but six of those occurred in June, most of them since June 20. The cases have been reported from 43 counties, the heaviest hit are: Franklin, Lucas, and Wood. Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized.
As of July 2, the Ohio Department of Health has reported at least 177 cyclosporiasis cases in 2026 — of those, 171 occurred since late June, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Health tells TODAY.com.
Newer reporting says Lucas County reported 306 cases and Northwest Ohio had more than 500 cases
The recent surge in cases in Michigan and bordering Ohio may be part of an “epidemic cluster,” Dr. Brian Kaminski, vice president of medical affairs at ProMedica Health System, who cares for patients in both states, told NBC News.
The FDA now lists multiple active Cyclospora investigations with not-yet-identified products, including references a second outbreak added July 8th, and an earlier one from June 17th.
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Health told news outlets that the state has seen 141 cases this year, a “higher-than-average” number.
New York
New York State has recorded 120 cases, and New York City has reported 273 illnesses since May 1, according to news reports.
North Carolina
North Carolina has reported at least 110 cyclospora infections since May, according to news reports.
Indiana
At least 72 cases have been reported in Indiana since May 1, a state health department spokesperson told NBC News.
Texas
Since May 1, 48 cases and five hospitalizations have been reported in Texas, according to news reports.
Can I Sue if I got Cyclospora in the Michigan Outbreak?
Yes, a Cyclospora lawsuit may be possible if evidence connects your diagnosed illness to contaminated food sold or served by a company. Pritzker Hageman has a detailed guide on suing for Cyclospora food poisoning from produce, and the same evidence principles apply here: a confirmed diagnosis, proof of exposure to the implicated food, and documented damages.
Because the Michigan source has not been identified, the best approach is to preserve evidence, cooperate with health officials, monitor official updates, and have an experienced food safety lawyer evaluate whether your illness can be linked to a food company, restaurant, grocery store, distributor, grower, processor, or other responsible party.
Depending on the facts, potential defendants in a Cyclospora case can include produce growers, packing houses, processors, distributors, grocery stores, restaurants, caterers, institutional foodservice companies, or others in the supply chain. Read more about grocery store Cyclospora claims and restaurant food poisoning lawsuits.
How Can Our Lawyers Help You?
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What Damages Can a Cyclospora Lawsuit Include?
A food poisoning claim can seek compensation for the harm caused by the illness. Depending on the facts, damages may include:
- Medical bills and out-of-pocket healthcare costs
- Prescription expenses and follow-up care
- Lost wages or lost business income
- Travel costs and other expenses caused by the illness
- Pain, suffering, fatigue, and loss of normal life
- Wrongful death damages if a foodborne illness leads to death
The value of a case depends on evidence, diagnosis, length and severity of illness, medical treatment, wage loss, long-term effects, and whether investigators can link the illness to a legally responsible company.
Why Hire Pritzker Hageman Food Safety Lawyers for Your Cyclospora Outbreak Case?
Pritzker Hageman’s Cyclospora lawyers have represented clients in major Cyclospora outbreaks linked to restaurants, grocery stores, salad, vegetable trays, herbs, and other fresh produce. The firm’s food safety team has handled claims involving outbreaks linked to McDonald’s salads, Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip and other retailers, Taylor Farms/Darden restaurant salad, fresh basil, and other produce vehicles.
Our food poisoning attorneys work with epidemiologists, microbiologists, and traceback experts. We look for the evidence that links a person’s diagnosis to a contaminated food source: testing, interviews, purchase records, lot codes, distribution records, supplier data, and government findings.
Pritzker Hageman has a national food poisoning practice and can help clients who were sickened while traveling, eating at chain restaurants, buying food from multi-state grocery retailers, or attending events. For a free consultation, call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or contact Pritzker Hageman online. We are not paid unless we win.
How to Reduce the Risk of Getting Sick
Health officials say washing or cooking your produce are the best ways to reduce the risk of getting a Cyclospora infection as heating food to 158°F or higher kills Cyclospora.
MDHHS has issued additional practical prevention recommendations for households and commercial kitchens while the outbreak is under investigation. These steps cannot guarantee prevention, but they can reduce risk. The state particularly highlighted recommendations for Southeast Michigan restaurants and kitchens that prepare raw produce for customers or high-risk people.
MDHHS recommendations include:
- Buy whole heads of lettuce rather than prewashed, bagged lettuce or salad mixes when possible during the investigation.
- Discard the outer two to three layers of whole lettuce heads and wash the inner leaves under running water.
- Cook leafy greens when possible, especially when serving people at higher risk of severe illness.
- Wash herbs such as cilantro and basil, green onions, raspberries, and snow peas carefully under running water; rub or scrub firm produce where appropriate.
- Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils, display cases, refrigerator bins, and food-contact surfaces after handling produce.
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
The CDC also cautions that chemical disinfection and sanitizing methods are unlikely to kill Cyclospora on food, which is one reason public health source identification is so important.
How Public Health Interviews Can Help Identify the Source
Cyclospora investigations can be difficult because many people eat several fresh produce items during the exposure window. Health departments compare food histories from many patients to look for common products, brands, stores, restaurants, events, distributors, or suppliers. A single person’s food history may not identify the source, but many interviews together can point investigators in the right direction.
That is why diagnosed patients should take health department calls seriously. Before the interview, it can help to review grocery receipts, loyalty-card records, restaurant and delivery-app orders, photos of meals, calendars, family menus, workplace cafeteria records, and travel details. If multiple household members are sick, each person’s symptom timeline can matter.
The WWJ/Audacy reported that signs at some Metro Detroit Taco Bell locations said lettuce, cilantro onion, pico de gallo, and guacamole were unavailable due to a “nationwide recall.” People summarized the same report and noted that Taco Bell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This is potentially important because the listed items overlap with the fresh-produce categories investigators are focusing on. However, as of July 9th, no public health agency has named Taco Bell, a Taco Bell supplier, or a specific Taco Bell ingredient as the outbreak source, and WWJ reported that it was unclear whether any Taco Bell customers had become ill.
Michigan Cyclospora outbreak FAQ
No, health officials have not yet identified a specific produce type, grower, supplier, brand, grocery store, restaurant, or foodservice company.
MDHHS identified Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland, and Livingston counties as having the highest numbers of reported cases as of July 4, 2026.
The most common symptom is watery diarrhea, often frequent and sometimes explosive. Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, body aches, headache, and low-grade fever.
Symptoms usually begin about one week after exposure, but they can start anywhere within 1 to 14 days of exposure.
Direct person-to-person spread is unlikely because Cyclospora generally needs time in the environment after leaving the body before it becomes infectious. Food or water contamination is the usual concern in outbreaks.
If you have sudden, ongoing diarrhea and may have been exposed in the Michigan outbreak, tell your provider about the outbreak and ask whether stool testing for Cyclospora is appropriate.
Cyclosporiasis is treated differently than most bacterial infections. Your healthcare provider should decide the right treatment based on your health history, medications, allergies, and symptoms.
A lawsuit may be possible if evidence connects your diagnosed illness to contaminated food sold or served by a company. Because the source is still unknown, preserve evidence and seek legal guidance before records disappear.
Save medical records, test results, receipts, loyalty-card records, delivery orders, restaurant receipts, photos of product labels, packaging, food histories, wage-loss records, and communications with health officials.
No. What matters is where and how you were exposed, whether you were diagnosed, and whether evidence links your illness to contaminated food sold or served by a responsible company. Travelers and out-of-state residents can still be part of an outbreak investigation, and contaminated food products may have been sold out of state, as well.
Call your healthcare provider for medical guidance, cooperate with your local health department, and contact Pritzker Hageman for a free legal consultation at 1-888-377-8900 or by text at 612-261-0856. You can also use our online contact form.
Related Pritzker Hageman Resources
- Can I Sue For Cyclospora Food Poisoning From Produce?
- Summertime is Peak Season for Cyclospora
- Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak Ends With 701 Sick
- Cyclospora Parasite Poses Seasonal Threat to Fresh Produce
- First Iowa McDonald’s Cyclospora Lawsuit Filed by Pritzker Hageman Attorneys
- Taco Del GNAR Cyclospora Outbreak in Ridgway, CO
- Supply Chain Failure Led to Alabama Cyclospora Outbreak
- Iowa Salad Cyclospora Outbreak Hits ALDI, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco Shoppers
- Can I Sue a Grocery Store for Cyclospora?
- 5 Reasons to File a Cyclospora Lawsuit
- Cyclospora from Restaurant Food Drives Summer Case Total to 1,696
- Cyclospora Legal News Archive
Experienced Cyclospora Lawyers
If you or a family member were diagnosed with cyclosporiasis after eating fresh produce, salad, herbs, berries, grocery food, restaurant food, catered food, or foodservice meals in Michigan, Pritzker Hageman wants to help. Our lawyers can review your food history, purchase records, medical diagnosis, and potential outbreak connection.
Pritzker Hageman Cyclospora lawyers have represented clients sickened in every major Cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. To request a free consultation about your potential case, please call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or complete the form below.