{"id":7276,"date":"2019-07-26T04:59:21","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T04:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/surveillance-and-investigation\/?page_id=7276"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:24:27","slug":"cyclosporiasis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/surveillance-and-investigation\/cyclosporiasis\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyclosporiasis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cyclosporiasis Background<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

Cyclosporiasis is an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite called\u00a0<\/span>Cyclospora<\/span><\/i>\u00a0(SIGH-clo-SPORE-uh).\u00a0Cyclosporiasis is not spread directly from person-to-person. Infected people pass\u00a0<\/span>Cyclospora<\/span><\/i>\u00a0in their feces (stool), but this form of the parasite cannot make people sick. The parasite needs time (days to weeks) in the environment to change into a form that can make people sick. This form of the parasite then can infect someone by entering the body through the mouth, typically by eating or drinking something that is contaminated with\u00a0<\/span>Cyclospora<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0Past\u00a0outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States\u00a0have been\u00a0linked to imported fresh produce, such as raspberries, basil, lettuce, and snow peas. The produce involved in each outbreak was\u00a0probably contaminated\u00a0in the country where it was grown.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2026 Cyclosporiasis Investigation<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and public health officials in several states are working together to investigate a\u00a0<\/span>multistate outbreak of Cyclospora<\/em><\/span><\/a> infections linked to shredded iceberg lettuce in nine states. On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico announced that they are <\/span>voluntarily recalling all iceberg lettuce<\/span><\/a>\u00a0sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.\u00a0Recalled lettuce was distributed and sold in multiple states to consumers, restaurants, and retailers, including in Virginia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recalled products include Marketside-brand products available at Walmart described as \u201cIceberg Salad 12-oz or 24-oz\" and \u201cShredded Lettuce 8-oz or 16-oz\" with Best if Used By dates of July 18 to August 3, 2026. The recall from Walmart stores\u00a0is located in\u00a0several states, including Virginia.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other recalled products were distributed to food service customers, and a complete list of those products is included in the\u00a0<\/span>recall notice<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Virginia Department of\u00a0<\/span>Health<\/span>\u00a0(VDH)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>i<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>closely\u00a0<\/span>monitoring<\/span>\u00a0an<\/span>d investig<\/span>ating reported cyclosporiasis case<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Some Virginia cyclosporiasis cases have reported travel to and exposures in states\u00a0<\/span>impacted<\/span>\u00a0by the large multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak.\u00a0<\/span>CDC and FDA\u00a0<\/span>anticipate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>the number of confirmed cases\u00a0<\/span>associated with this outbreak\u00a0<\/span>will rise, despite the recall,\u00a0<\/span>due to the fact that<\/span>\u00a0it can take\u00a0<\/span>several<\/span>\u00a0weeks for CDC and state health officials to\u00a0<\/span>determine<\/span>\u00a0if a sick person is part of this outbreak.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he number of cyclosporiasis cases reported to VDH\u00a0<\/span>typically increase<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0in the spring and summer<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>months<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Reported case counts\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>routinely\u00a0<\/span>posted\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>VDH<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Monthly Morbidity Report<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Annual Reportable Disease Surveillance Report<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Due to\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>heightened interest in cyclosporiasis this summer,\u00a0<\/span>VDH is also sharing\u00a0<\/span>weekly<\/span>\u00a0updates to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reported\u00a0<\/span>case coun<\/span>ts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in the table below.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2026 VA Cyclosporiasis Case Counts\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCases Domestically Acquired\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCases\u00a0Internationally Acquired\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nUnknown\/Pending<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nTotal (Change since previous week) <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Case Count\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n66 (+28) <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n31 (+4) <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n29 (+15)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n126 (+47)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

About the Data<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

This data table summarizes cyclosporiasis cases reported to the Virginia Department of Health during 2026 as of 07\/23\/2026<\/strong>. This page will be updated on a weekly basis on Mondays by 10 am and will include data through the previous Thursday. Data are preliminary and subject to change.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The cumulative numbers shown in the table above will not match the number displayed in monthly surveillance reports.\u00a0The VDH Monthly\u00a0<\/span>Morbidity Surveillance Reports\u00a0Dashboard<\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0is updated once a month,\u00a0whereas\u00a0this table will be updated once a week.\u00a0Additionally, please note that it is expected that case counts on the VDH webpage may not match data reported on the CDC webpage due to known lags in case reports, investigations, and differences in data workflows.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virginia is experiencing an increase in cyclosporiasis cases which is\u00a0expected during\u00a0the summer months.\u00a0The Division of Surveillance and Investigation\u00a0compiles case\u00a0reports for\u00a0cyclosporiasis\u00a0from laboratories, medical providers, and local health departments\u00a0in Virginia.\u00a0These data are entered into the Virginia Electronic Disease Surveillance System (VEDSS) and sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\u00a0Disease\u00a0surveillance data enable public health agencies to act quickly to prevent the spread of disease,\u00a0identify\u00a0and respond to outbreaks, and provide an overall snapshot of disease trends at the local, state, and national levels.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What VDH\u00a0does:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n