Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
What You Need to Know: California is not among the states currently experiencing an increase in cyclosporiasis cases. There are no known local outbreaks in California. CDPH continues to closely monitor for domestically acquired cases and outbreaks and encourage preventative measures including following safe food and water practices and thoroughly washing produce.
July 15, 2026 - SACRAMENTO – California is not one of the states currently experiencing an increase in cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite. There are no known local outbreaks in the state, and no California cases are currently known to be linked to outbreaks affecting other states, which are under investigation by their respective state health departments, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration.
To-date in 2026, California has seen fewer cases of cyclosporiasis than in 2025. From January to June 2026, California has reported 41 provisional cases of cyclosporiasis, compared to 80 cases during the same period in 2025. Annual averages from 2015-2025 are 106 cases (range: 15-240), and current counts for 2026 fall within expected ranges.
“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, California Department of Public Health (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.”
What CDPH is Doing:
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite, typically spread through food or water contaminated with human feces. It takes at least 1-2 weeks in the environment outside of the body for Cyclospora to become infectious after passing in a bowel movement. Person-to-person transmission is unlikely. Most California cases are associated with recent international travel, but CDPH actively monitors for possible domestically acquired cases (patients who did not travel internationally prior to their illness onset), as well as for possible outbreaks.
Because certain Eastern and Midwestern states are currently experiencing significant increases in cases, CDPH is closely monitoring for cases associated with travel to affected areas and looking for clusters that may indicate infection occurring in California. Given the size of the outbreak in the Midwest and travel during the summer, we can expect that cases will occur in Californians returning from the impacted areas.
What Californians Can Do:
While California’s case numbers remain stable and fall within expected ranges, CDPH urges everyone to follow these prevention steps:
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking. Scrub firm produce (like melons and cucumbers) with a clean produce brush.
- Remove and discard outer leaves from lettuce and leafy greens.
- For vulnerable populations (older adults, young children, pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals), cook vegetables and herbs whenever practical.
- Prevent cross-contamination: Use clean cutting boards, utensils, and food-contact surfaces. Keep ready-to-eat foods separate from raw produce during preparation.
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours).
- Avoid food or water that may be contaminated by human feces, especially when traveling to countries where tap water or food may be unsafe.
Most foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to imported fresh produce, including raspberries, cilantro, basil, snow peas, and mixed salad. While washing produce is important, it may not completely remove Cyclospora, so cooking is recommended when possible.
For more information on cyclosporiasis and safe food and water habits, visit CDPH’s cyclosporiasis webpage and see CDC resources on preventing cyclosporiasis.
Source: CDPH