Food poisoning information from the CDC. watch video
Do you think you got food poisoning? Here’s information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about what’s happening and why.
Cases of food poisoning caused by a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea continue to spread across the United States, with more than 700 cases in Michigan in the week after July 4th.
Cyclosporiasis, a disease that causes abdominal pain caused by a parasite commonly found in produce, has sickened hundreds of people in more than 18 U.S. states since May 1, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health data. Michigan is battling clusters of infections, with the number of cases already more than tripling compared to 2025, and several other states reporting more than 100 cases.
Additional state-level reporting shows a further spike in cases not yet reflected in the CDC surveillance dashboard, which is updated monthly. The latest data, released on June 16, has not yet caught up with the rapidly evolving spread of infection.
At this time, there is no evidence that a single multistate outbreak is linked to all cases. Local and federal officials continue to work to identify potential sources of outbreaks like the one in Michigan. But so far many cases appear to be part of a seasonal surge. The CDC believes the annual cyclosporiasis surge will last from May 1st to August 31st.
Here’s what you need to know when the number of cases exceeds 1,000.
Michigan tops the list with more than 700 cases
From June 22 to Monday, July 6, Michigan recorded more than 700 cases of cysticercosis, 36 of which resulted in hospitalizations.
“At this time, no specific produce producer, supplier or type of produce has been identified as the source of the outbreak,” Lynn Sutfin, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told USA TODAY on July 7. “Anyone experiencing gastrointestinal illness, such as sudden or persistent diarrhea, should contact their health care provider or local health department.”
New York follows in second place.
New York City has recorded a total of 301 cases as of July 7 of this year, 273 of which occurred after May 1, the health department told USA TODAY on July 7. New York City’s case count includes not only people who may have been infected domestically, but also people who have recently traveled abroad.
New York state, which reports and tracks infectious diseases separately from New York City, has reported 120 confirmed cases since May 1, 2026. The state has seen relatively high numbers of infections over the past several years, with the state total exceeding 500 to 700 cases in 2024 and 2025.
“While cyclosporosis is unlikely to spread directly from person to person and is generally not life-threatening, the department encourages all New Yorkers to be aware of best practices to prevent cyclosporiasis and other infections common in the summer, as many people with healthy immune systems recover without treatment,” spokeswoman Marissa Craley told USA TODAY in a July 7 email.
Ohio is seeing a spike
The Ohio Department of Health has reported 177 cases in 43 counties so far in 2026. Of those cases, 171 occurred in June, with most occurring after June 20, ODH spokesman Ken Gordon told the Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, on July 2.
Gordon told USA TODAY in an email on Tuesday, July 7, that the latest data is not yet available and will be released each Thursday.
Nearly 150 cases reported in North Carolina
The NCDHHD told USA TODAY in an email that at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in North Carolina from May 1 to July 7. It is not clear whether all of these were obtained domestically.
Illinois is in the top five.
As of July 7, there have been 141 reported cases of cyclosporiasis in Illinois, 59 locally acquired and 20 pending investigation, according to the Department of Public Health.
“IDPH is reporting a higher than average number of cystic disease cases, consistent with what we are seeing in several other states,” spokesperson Matthew Mata told USA TODAY. “At this time, no single source or cause for this increase has been identified, and there is no evidence of a large outbreak accounting for all or most of these cases. IDPH continues to work with CDC and other public health partners to examine trends.”
List of states with confirmed cases
As of Tuesday, July 7, cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed in the following states, according to the CDC and local media reports:
- alaska
- colorado
- connecticut
- florida
- georgia
- illinois
- louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- new jersey
- new york
- north carolina
- ohio
- pennsylvania
- tennessee
- texas
- virginia
- wisconsin
Be careful of foods that have caused outbreaks in the past.
The state health department has issued guidance to avoid the spread of cyclosporiasis, which commonly occurs in the summer due to contaminated, unwashed produce.
- Avoid consuming food or water that may be contaminated with feces. Avoid drinking or cooking with untreated water.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the restroom and before, during, and after preparing food.
- Wash all food preparation surfaces, including utensils, cutting boards, and countertops, before and after use.
- Wash and peel vegetables before eating. Give skinned produce such as melons and cucumbers a good rub. Cut out any damaged or bruised parts of fruits and vegetables before cooking and eating.
- Refrigerate cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within 2 hours).
- Cook your food when you can. Heating food above 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) kills Cyclospora.
Although the current group of cases has not yet been linked to a unique outbreak or to common foods, health officials recommended paying special attention to foods that have been linked to past outbreaks. Wash and scrub the following foods thoroughly with a brush or sponge.
- Bagged salad mixes and kits (blend of pre-cut lettuce, romaine, iceberg, red cabbage and carrots)
- fresh coriander (coriander leaves)
- fresh basil
- raspberry
- snow peas
- Green onion (green onion)
