Cyclosporiasis cases are rising nationwide, and Northeast Florida has not been spared.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 4,200 confirmed cases across 41 states since May 1 in its latest update on July 20,
In Florida, the Department of Health has reported 96 cases, including nine in the Jacksonville area as of July 18 — four in Duval County and five in St. Johns County.
Officials have not confirmed whether those local cases are linked to the current multistate outbreak.
Here’s what we know about the CDC’s Cyclosporiasis case counts and where the outbreak may be coming from.
Why is the CDC’s Cyclosporiasis case count lower than the actual total?
The CDC’s update places Florida’s outbreak-related cases in the “31 to 80” range, though the agency notes its totals can lag behind state reports due to verification and reporting delays
There have been 308 hospitalizations and no deaths reported during the time period, the CDC said.
The agency expects case counts to continue to rise because there’s typically a six-week reporting lag between an illness and the case being reported to the CDC.
“Cyclosporiasis cases may not be limited to these states with known cases,” according to the CDC update. “The true number of people sick with cyclosporiasis was likely higher than the number reported. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora.”
Who is getting cyclospora infections in Florida?
Florida’s 158 victims of Cyclospora infections are all ages from the 15-19 age range and up, FDOH data showed, including one person 85 years of age or older.
Of those cases, 96 were acquired in Florida, five were acquired in another state, and 28 were acquired outside the country. The source of 18 of the cases was unknown.
Where is the cyclospora outbreak coming from?
California produce supplier Taylor Farms on July 17 issued a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products as a result of the outbreak and investigation by the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and state health officials. That investigation initially connected the illnesses to lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico sold, in part, to Taco Bell locations in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
On July 18, the FDA said a Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce sample that was not part of the lettuce recalled by the company had tested positive for cyclospora. The next day, the FDA said that after being reviewed again, the test was found to be a false positive match.
On July 20, the FDA posted to X: “To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.”
The lettuce recalled was sold in retail stores, served in restaurants and distributed to food service customers. Taco Bell removed all Taylor Farms lettuce at select restaurants and Walmart pulled some bags of Marketside Bagged Iceberg Salad and Shredded Iceberg Salads, distributed by Taylor Farms. The lettuce had been sold in stores in 27 states.
Is there a cyclosporiasis outbreak in Florida? Number of case reports by county
As of July 18, the Florida Department of Health has reported 158 cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1. The totals are below, with the number added since the previous week’s report.
Cyclosporiasis infection is not uncommon in Florida. The state has reported an average of 246 cases of cyclosporiasis every year from 2015 through 2025, with a notable rise in cases in the last few years. There were 210 cases reported last year, and 222 cases in 2024, data shows. Cases surged over 500 in both 2019 and 2022.
The cases reported since May 1 were in:
What are the symptoms of cyclosporiasis?
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may vary, according to the CDC, but watery diarrhea is the most common. Others include:
Some people may also experience vomiting, body aches, headaches, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. Others may show no symptoms at all.
Symptoms can begin to show from two days to two weeks or more after infection, the CDC said. Without treatment, symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a month or longer.
How to avoid cyclospora
The single best way to avoid the illness is to not eat food connected with it, the CDC said. That means avoiding foods linked to outbreaks, and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking, even if it is labeled pre-washed.
Firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, should be scrubbed with a clean produce brush. Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
However, since washing alone may not be enough to remove the parasite, the CDC recommends cooking produce to a temperature of at least 158 degrees.
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletter
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 4,200+ Cyclosporiasis cases in 41 states. How many in Jacksonville?
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea and C. A. Bridges, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Doris Alvarez Cea and C. A. Bridges, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
