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Cyclosporiasis: What You Need to Know About the Emerging Parasitic Infection

By the bioMérieux Editors | Reading time: ~5 min

PUBLICATION DATE: July 13, 2026

Summer Surge in Cyclospora Infections

In July 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an atypical rise in cyclosporiasis, a food-borne parasitic infection. As of July 9, 2026, the CDC has received reports of 843 cases of cyclosporiasis across the United States, with 1,500 cases pending confirmation.1 However, reports coming in at the state level indicate a higher concentration of cases in the Midwest and growing numbers in other regions of the country. Notably, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have reported over 1,250 cases as of July 9, 2026, in which 44 of those cases included hospitalizations.2 This means that the number of cases reported to public health authorities is expected to increase in the coming weeks.

Surveillance data from BIOFIRE® FIREWORKS™, a molecular diagnostics management platform, confirms this atypical rise. Between June 26–July 5, 2026, FIREWORKS recorded a 10.8% increase in detections of Cyclospora cayetanensis compared to the same period last year. When looking at the Midwest for the same period, detections were up 27.5% year-on-year.

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BIOFIRE® FIREWORKS™ Trends surveillance data for BIOFIRE® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panels

Public health authorities are investigating this increase in cases, however, it has yet to be determined whether this respresents an outbreak or not. Surveillance at the national and state levels will continue to determine possible sources of infection as well as emerging clusters. Since cyclosporiasis is a notifiable disease in many states, more detailed information is expected soon.

Young beautiful woman having painful stomachache.Chronic gastritis. Abdomen bloating concept.

What is Cyclosporiasis?

Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness transmitted via the fecal-oral route. The parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis is the most common Cyclospora species responsible for cyclosporiasis. In the United States, cases of cyclosporiasis frequently occur in the spring and summer months and are most commonly associated with the ingestion of imported, contaminated produce.3,4 Infections are also routinely identified in travelers returning from endemic regions.3  

Cyclosporiasis symptoms can include prolonged watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fatigue, nausea, and weight loss. The disease course can range from a self-limited illness to a relapsing, waxing-and-waning infection lasting weeks if left untreated. 

Challenges to Cyclosporiasis Treatment

Unfortunately, Cyclospora can be difficult to detect using conventional diagnostic methods and may not be ordered as part of a routine clinical workup. Unlike many causes of acute gastroenteritis, targeted antimicrobial therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is recommended and can significantly shorten the duration of illness.5

Timely pathogen identification is crucial, making it important for labs and clinical teams to have the right test, at the right time, wherever the patient is. Multiplex PCR has emerged as a viable supplement to conventional infectious GI testing and offers the combination of speed, comprehensive results and high analytical sensitivity and specificity. The timely identification afforded by these tests can help guide treatment decisions, support public health surveillance, and inform an appropriate response.6 There are several FDA-cleared multiplex panels that are commercially available for clinical GI diagnostic testing; however, not all of them include Cyclospora as a target.

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The BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panels

Recognizing the impact of food or water-borne pathogens on our communities, bioMérieux takes into account not just common clinical pathogens, but also ones that may present a potential public health risk. The BIOFIRE GI Panels are no exception, with development guided by both clinical utility and public health considerations.

The 22-plex BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel and 11-plex BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel Mid are built on proven syndromic molecular technology that deliver results in about one hour.7,8 Each panel covers a broad range of bacterial, viral, and parasitic targets, including Cyclospora cayetanensis, E. coli, norovirus, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. With these multiplex assays, labs and clinical teams may not only optimize antimicrobial and other treatment decisions,9,10 but also offer that care across outpatient and hospital-based settings.

fireworks-surveillance-software

Cyclospora Surveillance with FIREWORKS

FIREWORKS is a centralized platform for real-time insights into system performance and pathogen trends. Its Trends dashboard collects current and historical test results from participating BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® and BIOFIRE® SPOTFIRE® systems. Each target detected on a BIOFIRE or SPOTFIRE panel serves as a datapoint that healthcare teams can monitor in real time to identify emerging trends and evaluate potential public health risks.

By providing greater visibility into pathogen activity, FIREWORKS helps support community preparedness, outbreak awareness, and informed resource planning.

References

  1. CDC. Surveillance of Cyclosporiasis. Accessed: July 7, 2026. [Link]
  2. Health and Human Services. Cyclosporiasis Outbreak. Accessed: July, 10, 2026.  [Link]
  3. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2019 Apr 19;68(3):1-16. [Link]
  4. Hadjilouka A, Tsaltas D. Cyclospora cayetanensis—major outbreaks from ready to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods. 2020;9(11):1703. doi:10.3390/foods9111703. 
  5. Shane AL, et al. 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65(12):e45-e80. doi:10.1093/cid/cix669. 
  6. Bateman AC, et al. 2020. Performance and Impact of the BioFire FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel on a Large Cyclospora Outbreak in Wisconsin, 2018. J Clin Microbiol 58:10.1128/jcm.01415-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.01415-19
  7. bioMérieux. BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel Instructions for Use. On file at bioMérieux.
  8. bioMérieux. BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel Mid Instructions for Use. On file at bioMérieux.
  9. Beal SG, et al. A gastrointestinal PCR panel improves clinical management and lowers health care costs. J Clin Microbiol 2018; 56:e01457–17.
  10. Axelrad JE, et al.2019.Impact of Gastrointestinal Panel Implementation on Health Care Utilization and Outcomes. J Clin Microbiol 57:10.1128/jcm.01775-18.https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.01775-18

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