The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) says California has seen fewer cases in 2026 than it had at this time last year, and there are no known local outbreaks in the state at this time.
From January through June of this year, California has reported 41 provisional cases of cyclosporiasis, compared to 80 cases reported during the same period in 2025. The CDPH added that none of the current California cases are linked to outbreaks in other states.
Nationwide, about 7,000 cases are under review, and on Tuesday, the CDC sent an alert to doctors and a warning to the public to expect increasing cases through the end of August.
"It's important to understand that California experiences cases of cyclosporiasis every year, with a majority of cases acquired internationally. Cases for 2026 are well within expected ranges for California, and we are not currently one of the states experiencing increased cases or an outbreak," said Dr. Erica Pan, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. "We are aware of the outbreaks affecting other states, however, and are closely monitoring for any signs of local acquired infection. We encourage Californians to protect themselves and their families by practicing safe food handling and thoroughly washing produce."
Still, Californians are encouraged to thoroughly wash produce and follow food safety guidelines.
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The outbreak is shaping up to be the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak on record. More than 3,300 cases have been reported in hard-hit Michigan, 600 more than on Monday.
A woman in Detroit described what it was like to endure the illness.
"By day seven, I'm like, night sweats, sick every time I eat, like, I'm not getting better," she said.
Dr. Jonathan Pham, an infectious disease specialist with Loma Linda University Health, said cyclosporiasis can cause a range of symptoms.
"Low-grade fevers, fatigue, abdominal cramps, nausea, and it can cause watery, foul-smelling diarrhea as well," Pham said.
Pham said cyclosporiasis comes from a single-celled parasite stemming from human feces-contaminated food or water. Officials believe person-to-person transmission is unlikely.
"You don't need to ingest much of it, actually, for it to cause an infection in the small intestine," he said.
The CDC and FDA are warning doctors across the country to be on alert for patients showing signs of cyclosporiasis, which can be treated with antibiotics.
Investigators have confirmed more than 1,600 cases so far, and more than 5,000 await further analysis. At this time last year, only 249 cases had been reported nationally.
"I do think that we're going to have, like, increasing numbers, especially as we're getting into the summer months," Pham said.
The CDC says more than 400 cases in at least four states appear to be linked. Michigan health officials say preliminary findings seem to point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential common source, but no specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified.
"It's hard to trace back to the original source. And so it takes, like, a lot of contact tracing," Pham said.
Part of the challenge is that it can take up to 10 days for people to feel symptoms, making it difficult for patients to recall what they ate.
Taco Bell says it has voluntarily and temporarily removed some ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. The company says public health officials have not confirmed any link between the outbreak and any specific supplier or restaurant.
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