City health officials are investigating a rise in cases of a disease caused by a parasite that they say has been spreading through contaminated food and water since the beginning of May.
There have been 372 cases of cyclosporiasis — an illness caused by a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis that causes diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea — reported in the five boroughs, with 344 of those cases being reported between May 1 and July 9, the department said.
What You Need To Know
The New York City Health Department is investigating a rise in cyclosporiasis cases and working to identify a common source
Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which spreads through contaminated food or water
As of July 9, the city has reported 372 cases in 2026, including 344 reported between May 1 and July 9
“We are working with our partners to determine a common source,” the city’s Department of Health wrote in a statement. “To help prevent cyclosporiasis, we strongly recommend cooking your food whenever possible and washing fresh produce thoroughly under clean, running water.”
People can become infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite, according to the CDC and the city’s DOH. The DOH said outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh produce, including raspberries and cilantro. Unlike many other gastrointestinal illnesses, it does not spread directly from person to person.
The DOH says symptoms typically develop about one week after exposure and include watery diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, muscle aches, weight loss and a low-grade fever. If untreated, the DOH says the illness can last from several days to more than a month, though some infected people do not develop any symptoms.
The Health Department is urging New Yorkers to follow routine food safety practices, including washing hands before handling food and after using the bathroom, rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables with a clean produce brush, and wash and sanitize utensils and cooking surfaces.
The investigation comes as health officials in several other states are also tracking increases in infections.
Michigan is experiencing the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in its history, with 992 confirmed cases and about 40 hospitalizations as of Wednesday. No deaths have been reported.
Including New York, similar investigations are underway in 28 other states.