Outbreaks of a parasitic infection that triggers severe diarrhea and is surging in other states have not reached Ventura County, a public health official said.
County Health Officer Dr. Uldine Castel said there have been no reported cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the region. Individual cases of the illness emerge every summer but this year’s tally of less than five confirmed and probable cases is much lower than in each of the previous two years. None of this year’s cases are believed linked to the rising outbreaks in Michigan and elsewhere.
“It hasn’t come to us,” she said on July 14. “There hasn’t been any uptick in the typical summer GI food-borne illnesses.”
Across the nation, more than 1,600 cases of the infection have been reported with many more being investigated, according to officials at the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
The illness is caused by a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. Symptoms include explosive diarrhea, nausea, cramps, bloating, fatigue, increased gas and low-grade fever.
CDC officials said the exact cause of ongoing outbreaks is unknown. Michigan health officials said their investigation is ongoing but that current results indicate lettuce or salad greens as a possible source for the outbreak in that state.
California public health officials reported July 14 there are no known local outbreaks of the illness in California.
Like Castel, they said the illness emerges in relatively small numbers every year and is often linked to international travel. They said the 41 provisional cases of the infection reported across state from January to June are about half of the tally over the same time period in 2025.
“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, state public health officer, in a news release.
Castel said summer travel and the rise in cases in other states means it’s possible more cases of the illness could emerge in Ventura County.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some cases that are domestically derived,” she said.
While emphasizing the source of the nation’s outbreaks is not definitively known, Castel noted that contaminated fresh produce has played a role in past outbreaks across the nation. She said people should consider buying heads of lettuce and discarding the outer leaves. She said other sensible precautions include thoroughly washing produce and cooking vegetables instead of eating them raw.
More precautionary steps to avoid cyclosporiasis contamination from state officials
USA Today contributed to this report.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Diarrhea outbreak has not reached Ventura County. What to know
Reporting by Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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By Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
