Cyclosporiasis cases in Virginia have more than doubled

Gavin Stone, The Virginian-Pilot on Jul 20, 2026

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Updated statewide data shows the total confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in Virginia have more than doubled the number of cases identified previously, but the state is still not experiencing an “outbreak,” according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Virginia has 79 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, the illness stemming from a cyclospora parasite infection. These cases include 38 from domestic exposure and 27 from international exposure, along with 14 confirmed cases with unknown origin or which are still being traced, according to VDH data from July 16 released Monday.

This is up from the 37 cases identified as of July 4 and updated on VDH’s website on July 15. Monday’s data does not include a breakdown of confirmed cases by health district or locality.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an “outbreak” as when there are more cases than what is usually expected over a given time, within a specific location, and for a target population.

The CDC warned the public on Thursday not to eat shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The Associated Press reported that federal officials are focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms, a supplier based in Salinas, California.

Food and Drug Administration officials on Monday said a laboratory test incorrectly identified a positive result for cyclospora on a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms. The FDA posted the finding to its website on Saturday but then said Sunday that the result had been a false positive.

Cyclosporiasis differs from normal foodborne illness in that it can cause “intense bouts of watery diarrhea” along with fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramps, and potentially vomiting and a low-grade fever, according to Kelsey Holloman, the program manager for foodborne disease epidemiology at VDH.

Holloman told The Virginian-Pilot in an interview last week that she recommends going to the doctor if you have diarrhea for multiple days.

Cases of cyclosporiasis typically increase in the spring and summer months, but The Pilot reported that the state is far-outpacing the average number of cases.

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