The Erie County Department of Health has confirmed seven cases of cyclosporiasis in local residents.

This brings the total number of states with cases to 34, including Pennsylvania, with over 645 confirmed cases across the United States since May 1, 2026, and another 5,100 being investigated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are 11-30 people in Pennsylvania sick with the infection.

While health officials monitor the situation and investigate the cases, they’re advising anyone who believes they may have been infected to contact their primary care provider for guidance on testing and symptom management.

Erie DOH officials said they’re working to provide education and resources to local caregivers and the rest of the community. For now, they said healthcare providers should have a heightened clinical suspicion for the infection in people with compatible symptoms.

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National health officials are still working to identify a single source of the increase in cases across the country.

According to the DOH, cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a parasite with symptoms including “explosive” watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, stomach cramps, and fatigue, though nausea and vomiting were described as much less common.

The parasite is transmitted via a fecal-to-oral route, commonly through contaminated food or water, with health officials stressing that it is not known to be transmissible from person to person.

The DOH said previous outbreaks came from contaminated foods like basil, cilantro, lettuce, raspberries, and snow or snap peas.

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Although handwashing and cleaning produce are always recommended, these methods do not necessarily kill the Cyclospora parasite, officials said.

The infection is still classified as a voluntarily reportable disease in Pennsylvania, though health officials said if you receive a call from the health department, you can expect questions about recent travel, exposures and interactions with animals, and food you’ve eaten in the past 10-14 days before developing symptoms.

More information about the parasite is available online here.

This is a developing story; more information will be provided as it becomes available.

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