Indiana Cyclosporiasis Increase: 2026
The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has identified an increase of reported cyclosporiasis cases. Several states across the Midwest have identified cases increases and suspected clusters and outbreaks. The source of many of these cases has not yet been identified. The IDOH continues to work with local, state and federal public health partners to identify possible source(s). Previous outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States have been linked to bagged salad mixes and kits (pre-cut lettuce blends with romaine, iceberg, cabbage, carrots), fresh herbs such as cilantro and basil, raspberries, green onions and other fresh produce.
Most people with healthy immune systems will recover without treatment. Contact a healthcare provider for testing and treatment if you are experiencing gastrointestinal illness, such as severe diarrhea. Cyclosporiasis can be treated with antibiotics, and it is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids while experiencing diarrhea.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website for more information.
Indiana Case Counts
Total Cases: 1,893
- 1065 (56.3%) of cases are female
- 828 (43.7%) of cases are male
- Age range of cases is 0-98 years
Last updated: August 10
Data notes
- Case counts reflect all reported cases of cyclosporiasis during the investigation time frame (beginning 5/1/2026).
- Case counts reflects data reported as of noon.
- This data is updated each day, Monday through Friday, by 1 p.m. EDT.
- Data are subject to change as additional information is available.
|
County |
Number of Cyclospora Cases Reported |
| Adams | 7 |
| Allen | 471 |
| Bartholomew | 4 |
| Blackford | 2 |
| Boone | 7 |
| Brown | 2 |
| Cass | 3 |
| Clark | 54 |
| Clay | 1 |
| Clinton | 2 |
| Crawford | 11 |
| Dearborn | 2 |
| Decatur | 1 |
| DeKalb | 134 |
| Delaware | 17 |
| Dubois | 3 |
| Elkhart | 90 |
| Floyd | 46 |
| Fountain | 1 |
| Fulton | 3 |
| Grant | 2 |
| Greene | 2 |
| Hamilton | 28 |
| Hancock | 32 |
| Harrison | 73 |
| Hendricks | 24 |
| Henry | 7 |
| Howard | 7 |
| Huntington | 25 |
| Jackson | 15 |
| Jasper | 3 |
| Jay | 1 |
| Jefferson | 8 |
| Jennings | 5 |
| Johnson | 8 |
| Knox | 1 |
| Kosciusko | 100 |
| LaGrange | 20 |
| Lake | 19 |
| LaPorte | 2 |
| Lawrence | 3 |
| Madison | 10 |
| Marion | 132 |
| Marshall | 14 |
| Martin | 1 |
| Monroe | 8 |
| Montgomery | 1 |
| Morgan | 19 |
| Noble | 135 |
| Orange | 6 |
| Owen | 4 |
| Perry | 2 |
| Porter | 5 |
| Putnam | 3 |
| Randolph | 2 |
| Ripley | 4 |
| Rush | 2 |
| Scott | 5 |
| Shelby | 5 |
| St. Joseph | 66 |
| Steuben | 127 |
| Sullivan | 1 |
| Switzerland | 4 |
| Tippecanoe | 9 |
| Union | 1 |
| Vanderburgh | 11 |
| Vigo | 7 |
| Wabash | 11 |
| Warrick | 1 |
| Washington | 8 |
| Wayne | 10 |
| Wells | 4 |
| White | 1 |
| Whitley | 28 |
Current Recommendations
People experiencing gastrointestinal illness, such as sudden and ongoing diarrhea, are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider for testing and treatment. Contact your local health department if you have general questions about the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is treated with antibiotics along with rest and drinking plenty of fluids to maintain hydration.
General practices to reduce your risk of cyclosporiasis and other foodborne illnesses:
- Cook produce items when you can. Heating food to 158°F (70°C) or higher kills Cyclospora.
- Wash all fresh produce under clean running water, even if you plan to peel it.
- Lettuce and leafy greens: Purchase whole heads of lettuce rather than prewashed, bagged lettuce or salad mixes. Remove the outer two to three leaves and wash the remaining leaves under running water Cook leafy greens when possible.
- Cilantro and basil: Separate the leaves and wash thoroughly under running water. Cooking is the safest option.
Additional food safety reminders:
- Wash hands with soap and water before handling or preparing food.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Wash and sanitize all surfaces before and after handling food. Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators where fresh produce is stored.
- Wash and sanitize cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to prepare, serve, or store fresh produce.
- Refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
- Freezing may not be sufficient to kill the parasite.
Cleaning recommendations:
- There is no specific EPA-registered disinfectant for Cyclospora. The FDA recommends cleaning surfaces with a diluted bleach solution.
Cyclosporiasis (cy-clo-spo-ry-uh-sis) is an illness caused by a microscopic parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis. Food or water can become contaminated with poop that contains the parasite. People can then become sick by consuming the contaminated food or water. As travel and fresh produce consumption increase this summer, individuals and healthcare providers should consider Cyclospora infection if they have compatible illness.
Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora) is usually transmitted when someone consumes food or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) containing the parasite. Person-to-person spread is unlikely. In the United States, past foodborne outbreaks of Cyclospora have been linked to fresh produce, such as salad, snow peas, herbs, and other various fruits and vegetables.
Symptoms include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach pain or cramps
- Bloating
- Gas
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Body aches
- Headache
- Fever
- Other flu-like symptoms
Symptoms normally begin around 7 days after exposure but can range from 2-14 days.
Symptoms can last for a few days to more than a month if not treated. If left untreated, some people may also experience a cycle of symptoms. In these cases, infected people will feel sick, then feel better for a few days, and then start to feel sick again.
Some infected people do not have any symptoms, particularly people from areas where cyclosporiasis is routinely expected (endemic) particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
Diagnosis
Cyclosporiasis is normally diagnosed through laboratory testing of a poop sample. Sometimes, diagnosis can be challenging because some patients may not shed enough of the parasite to be detected, even if they are experiencing symptoms. Because of this, your doctor may ask you to submit multiple stool samples.
Health care providers may have to specifically request testing for Cyclospora.
Treatment
Most people with healthy immune systems recover without treatment. A combination of antibiotics containing sulfa are used to treat Cyclospora when needed. Contact your doctor to discuss treatment options. It is recommended that patients drink plenty of fluids to manage diarrhea and prevent dehydration.
Hand hygiene
- Wash your hands after using the restroom as well as before and after handling or preparing fruits and vegetables
Food safety
- Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with soap and hot water between the preparation of raw meat, poultry, and seafood products and the preparation of fruits and vegetables that will not be cooked.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables under running water
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, or within 2 hours. Store fruits and vegetables separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
Travel
- Use caution when traveling to countries with tropical and subtropical regions with minimal sanitation systems and water treatment. Try to avoid tap water, water fountains, and fresh produce.
Be sure to speak to a doctor if you believe you have Cyclospora. If you test positive for Cyclospora, your local or state public health department will be reaching out for an interview. The information you provide is extremely valuable to possibly finding what made you sick and preventing others from getting sick. The following groups of people should not return to work or school until approved by the local health department:
- Healthcare workers
- Food handlers such as in restaurants, catering, or cafeterias
- Daycare or school workers
- Children attending daycare or school
If any of these apply to you, then you must meet certain requirements to return to work or school. Once you or your child start having symptoms of the illness, such as diarrhea, do not attend work (specifically for food handlers, healthcare workers, daycare workers) or attend daycare or school until a healthcare provider or someone from your local health department says you are clear to go back. This will help prevent the spread of Cyclospora and keep others from getting sick.
Page last updated/reviewed: August 2026
