NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — Health officials are urging New Yorkers to take extra precautions when handling fresh produce after a sharp rise in cases of cyclosporiasis, a food-borne illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora.
A joint health advisory issued Monday by the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Health Department says 381 cases have been reported in New York City so far this year, approximately a threefold increase compared with the same period in 2025.
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Outside New York City, 129 cases have been reported across New York State as of July 8, far exceeding the typical 20 to 55 cases usually seen by early July.
The increase has prompted an investigation by state and city health officials, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health departments in other states.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine. In the United States, infections are most common during the summer months and are typically spread through contaminated food or water.
Because the parasite is microscopic, it can contaminate fresh produce before it reaches grocery store shelves or home kitchens. Unlike many other gastrointestinal illnesses, cyclosporiasis is not spread directly from person to person. The parasite must first mature in the environment before it becomes infectious.
While health officials have not identified the source of the current increase in New York, investigators in Michigan, one of the states reporting a large number of cases this year, say interviews with hundreds of patients suggest lettuce and other salad greens are emerging as a possible source.
Officials caution that the investigation is ongoing, and they have not identified a specific grower, distributor, or brand linked to illnesses.
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New York health officials are not advising people to stop eating fresh produce. Instead, they recommend practicing safe food handling while the investigation continues. Previous outbreaks in the United States have been linked to imported fresh produce, including basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries, and snow peas.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis typically begin about one week after someone consumes contaminated food or water. Common symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal cramping, fatigue, weight loss, vomiting, and a low-grade fever.
Without treatment, the illness can last for several weeks and, in some cases, a month or longer. Symptoms may improve before returning.
“It’s infecting the most healthful, seasonal foods there are,” said Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease specialist with Northwell Health. Hirsch said many people initially mistake the illness for a routine stomach bug.
“Most people don’t even know it,” he told PIX11. Anyone can become infected, but doctors say severe or prolonged illness is more likely among young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. “People who are most susceptible are the very young, the very old, and people whose immune systems are most vulnerable,” Hirsch said.
Health officials recommend washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating or preparing them, washing hands before handling produce, keeping fruits and vegetables separate from raw meat and seafood, and refrigerating cut produce promptly.
Cooking foods whenever possible also helps, as heating food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) kills the parasite. Health officials also note that routine stool tests do not always detect Cyclospora. Doctors may need to specifically request testing if they suspect someone has cyclosporiasis.
Anyone experiencing prolonged diarrhea or other symptoms after eating fresh produce should contact a healthcare provider.
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