Two Deaths Recorded Amid Thousands of Cyclosporiasis Cases Investigated by Authorities

Sanitary authorities confirm two deaths and thousands of intestinal parasite infections during a major cyclosporiasis wave, prompting ongoing federal and state investigations in the United States.

Two Deaths Confirmed in Michigan

Sanitary services have confirmed two deaths recorded during a wave of cyclosporiasis—an intestinal parasitic disease whose main symptom is prolonged, watery diarrhea. Laboratory testing confirmed 6,707 infections, while over 11.5 thousand additional cases still require verification.

The deaths were recorded in the U.S. state of Michigan. The local Department of Health and Human Services reported that the deceased individuals had severe underlying conditions, and medical documentation indicates that cyclosporiasis and related dehydration could have additionally worsened their condition. Due to patient privacy protection, authorities did not release information regarding their age, gender, or place of residence.

State services emphasize that deaths due to cyclosporiasis are rare in the United States. The disease usually does not pose a direct threat to life, but prolonged diarrhea can lead to significant dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and the exacerbation of other ailments. Those most at risk of a severe course are the elderly, chronically ill individuals, and patients with compromised immunity.

Over 11,000 Cyclosporiasis Cases

According to data updated on August 3, 2026, 11,234 cases of cyclosporiasis were registered in Michigan. By July 30, 193 patients required hospitalization. For comparison, in previous years state services typically detected between 40 and 50 illnesses annually, meaning the current wave vastly exceeds levels observed in a typical season.

At the end of June, authorities knew of slightly over 170 cases. By July 13, that number rose to 2,640, and in the first days of August it exceeded 11,000. However, this does not mean all infections occurred within a few weeks, as some results were reported with a delay, and Michigan data includes both confirmed illnesses and cases qualified under broader state criteria.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that from May 1 to July 27, 6,707 cases of cyclosporiasis acquired within the United States were laboratory confirmed, with 423 people requiring hospitalization. Furthermore, the CDC is analyzing over 11.5 thousand additional reports that have not yet been lab-confirmed or require the exclusion of foreign travel-related infections, meaning the more than 18,000 reports should not be presented as a single category of confirmed illnesses.

The discrepancy between the national CDC compilation—which as of July 28 showed no deaths—and the latest Michigan data stems from different update schedules and the time needed to verify and transmit information, with state services confirming two deaths on August 3.

Iceberg Lettuce Under FDA Investigation

One of the largest investigated outbreaks has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce originating from central Mexico, a product that went to restaurants including Taco Bell. According to FDA data from July 24, 1,947 infected individuals across nine states reported eating at locations of this chain prior to falling ill, and at least 98 patients were hospitalized, though no deaths were reported in this specific outbreak at the time.

Taylor Farms de Mexico began a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico on July 17, affecting Marketside-brand lettuce sold in select Walmart stores and products supplied to food service. The FDA noted that the investigation remains ongoing and lettuce-related infections constitute only a part of all cyclosporiasis cases detected in the United States.

In Michigan, preliminary epidemiological interview results also direct authorities’ attention to lettuce and salad mixes, though state organs did not attribute all 11,234 cases to a single product, producer, or supplier. It also cannot be predetermined that both deaths were linked specifically to the recalled batches of lettuce, as it is only known that the deceased fell ill before the recall announcement on July 17.

Cyclosporiasis in Poland and Infection Risks

There is currently no confirmation that products covered by the American recall have been introduced for sale in Poland, as FDA distribution information lists the U.S. market and Mexico without mentioning Poland or other European Union countries. Consequently, there is no basis to link Polish stores with the described outbreak or claim that the current wave of infections has moved to the country.

However, isolated cases of cyclosporiasis can be diagnosed in Poland, especially among individuals returning from tropical and subtropical regions. A study published in 2015 described three Poles who fell ill after traveling to Indonesia in 2013, with infection confirmed in two men and the third case considered probable; the most severe course occurred in a kidney transplant patient taking immunosuppressive drugs, whose diarrhea lasted for three months and led to a 15-kilogram weight loss and two hospitalizations for dehydration.

The risk for residents of Poland primarily concerns travel to countries where the parasite is endemic and the consumption of contaminated imported products. A patient’s return from the United States should not cause a local chain of transmission since direct person-to-person spread is unlikely, but it cannot be excluded that a Polish tourist might contract the illness by eating contaminated food or drinking impure water abroad.

Symptoms, Transmission, and Treatment

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, with infection occurring after consuming food or water contaminated with feces containing the parasite. Symptoms typically appear after about a week, though the incubation period can range from two days to two weeks or longer, characterized most notably by frequent, watery diarrhea that may be accompanied by cramping abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, muscle aches, headache, and low-grade fever.

Untreated ailments can last for over a month, temporarily subsiding and then returning, while diagnosis requires stool sample testing specifically targeted at Cyclospora because routine tests may miss the parasite. The primary medication is a doctor-prescribed combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, along with concurrent fluid and electrolyte replenishment.

Individuals should avoid food covered by sanitary warnings, untreated water, ice of unknown origin, and raw salads, herbs, and fruits when visiting high-risk regions. Thoroughly washing vegetables reduces some microbiological hazards but does not guarantee the removal of Cyclospora, which is killed by heat treatment at a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, and patients should neither independently take antibiotics nor ignore prolonged diarrhea, especially after foreign travel.