Cyclospora is easy for doctors to miss. The US made it even harder to spot | Robert B Shpiner
Summary
Cyclospora is a parasite that causes severe diarrhea and is hard for doctors to detect because routine tests often skip it. In July 2025, the CDC made tracking Cyclospora optional in its main disease monitoring program, FoodNet, which contributed to slower outbreak detection amid a large 2026 outbreak affecting many states.Key Facts
- Cyclospora causes watery diarrhea, weight loss, and dehydration.
- Routine stool tests usually do not look for Cyclospora unless specifically requested.
- The CDC downgraded Cyclospora from mandatory to optional tracking in the FoodNet surveillance system starting July 2025.
- FoodNet monitors eight pathogens; six were downgraded to optional, leaving only Salmonella and E. coli mandatory.
- As of mid-July 2026, there were 1,645 confirmed cases of Cyclospora in 34 states, with 141 hospitalizations.
- Michigan reported over 3,700 cases, far above its usual 40 to 50 yearly cases.
- Cyclospora spreads through contaminated food or water, not person-to-person contact.
- Timely and sensitive surveillance is essential to quickly identify outbreak sources and prevent further infections.
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