Summit County now has seven total reported cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness that causes explosive diarrhea and other uncomfortable symptoms, as of July 7, according to Summit County Public Health.
These cases have occurred since June 20, said Marlene Martin, public information officer for Summit County Public Health.
There is a current nationwide spike in cyclosporiasis, a form of food poisoning caused by the cyclospora cayetanensis parasite.
As of July 2, the Ohio Department of Health reported 177 cyclosporiasis cases in the state in 2026. 171 of those cases occurred in June, mostly since June 20.
There are two reported cases in Medina County, according to Ohio’s infectious disease map.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 145 cases of people who acquired cyclosporiasis in the United States between May 1 and June 16 after eating food in the country.
What is cyclosporiasis?
Twenty-eight Ohioans have been hospitalized, according to an Ohio Department of Health news release, though the infection is not typically life-threatening. It can cause watery, explosive diarrhea.
Cyclosporiasis spreads by ingesting feces with the parasite, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The disease generally is transmitted by eating contaminated produce, according to the news release.
How to avoid cyclosporiasis
Ohioans should take extra precautions when handling fruits and vegetables to help prevent cyclosporiasis, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said in the news release.
“Fortunately, there have been no deaths in Ohio, as is consistent with our past experiences with this illness,” Vanderhoff said in the release. “Nevertheless, this is a serious illness that can cause dehydration and require people to seek emergency medical care, and it should be taken seriously.”
No source identified yet causing cyclosporiasis outbreak
The Ohio Department of Health, local health departments and neighboring state and federal partners are working to investigate the outbreak, the release said. They are conducting interviews and traceback investigations to identify any common exposures.
At of July 8, no common source has been identified.
To prevent cyclosporiasis, the CDC recommends not consuming food or water that may be contaminated with feces. It also encourages washing hands before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables, using a clean produce brush to scrub firm produce and cutting away damaged or bruised areas on produce before preparing them.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit County has 7 cases of infection causing explosive diarrhea
Reporting by Lauren Cohen, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lauren Cohen, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
