The doctor I spoke to here says the biggest risk is dehydration, especially when it comes to the diarrhea and vomiting that cyclosporiasis can cause, and he says that’s especially important for people to know in extreme heat like what we’re seeing right now. But there are things people can do to protect themselves, like buying produce from local farmers’ markets. At the Catonsville Farmers Market, Cynthia Yingling says word of the cyclosporiasis outbreak has brought customers to her stand. They felt that this would be *** safer option. Because we don’t use wash water, it’s less, less handling stuff. I mean, basically we pick it, package it, and it comes straight to the consumer, so there’s *** lot less fingers in the pot. Dr. Greg Schrank at the University of Maryland Medical Center agrees produce from local farms is lower risk for cyclosporiasis. an illness caused by *** parasite in contaminated foods and water. Produce from local farms, particularly as given the breadth and distribution of cases across the country, the sheer number of cases, it does suggest somewhere much further up in the supply chain. As *** source of contamination, it comes as cyclosporiasis cases are on the rise in Maryland. The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed 69 cases of cyclosporiasis this year. That’s compared to 32 confirmed cases the Health Department reported about *** week ago. So what’s been quite startling with the current outbreak is. The sheer number of cases in *** very short period of time. We see typically in Maryland, um, *** few cases each year. Dr. Shrinks says there are some things you can do to protect yourself. He says you should avoid buying or eating bags of salad, spinach, or lettuce. You can peel off the outer layer of your fruits and vegetables because the parasite sticks to the outside of things, and you can cook your produce if needed to avoid. Getting sick, it can cause very bothersome and uncomfortable symptoms, but it is generally not life threatening. Dr. Shchrenk says if you have diarrhea for more than 1 or 2 days, you can go to *** doctor who can test you for cyclosporiasis. If you are diagnosed, he says there is an antibiotic that can help shorten the duration of your symptoms and make them less severe. In downtown Baltimore, I’m Brianna Ross, WBAL TV 11 News.
Cyclospora in Maryland: Health officials report 69 cases through July — more than double last week
Updated: 6:23 PM EDT Jul 15, 2026
Cyclosporiasis cases in Maryland have more than doubled since last week, state health officials said.The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed 69 cases of cyclosporiasis reported in the state, 65 of which occurred since May 1 through July 14.| LINK: Cyclosporiasis Fact Sheet from the Maryland Department of Health’s Prevention and Health Promotion AdministrationThese data include cases that are domestically acquired and those associated with international travel, MDH said.So far, health departments across Maryland have not identified a common link for cases reported so far this year.Investigations into cyclosporiasis cases are continuously conducted by local health departments and reported to MDH.What are the symptoms of cyclospora?The illness, caused by a parasite found in contaminated food and water, can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fatigue.Dr. Greg Schrank, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center, said the biggest risk is dehydration, particularly during extreme heat, as cases rise.”What’s been quite startling with the current outbreak is the sheer number of cases in a very short period of time,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We see typically, in Maryland, a few cases each year.”Symptoms appear about one to 14 days, usually a week, after eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, MDH said.The most common symptom is watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Others include:Extreme fatigueLoss of appetiteSubstantial weight lossIncreased gas and bloatingStomach cramps, nausea, vomitingLow-grade feverHow to protect against illness from cyclosporiasisTo protect against cyclosporiasis, Schrank recommends avoiding prepackaged salads, spinach or lettuce, peeling the outer layer of fruits and vegetables if possible, and cooking produce when possible, to avoid cyclosporiasis.”It can cause very bothersome and uncomfortable symptoms, but is generally not life-threatening,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News.He also advised seeing a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than one or two days, as testing can confirm a cyclosporiasis diagnosis.”If the diagnosis is made, there is an antibiotic treatment that can shorten the duration of symptoms and lessen the severity of symptoms, and so, especially if you do identify yourself as somebody that’s more vulnerable, getting that earlier diagnosis can really help prevent that prolonged syndrome of diarrhea and then any complications from it,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News.Produce from local farms may pose lower riskSchrank explained that produce from local farms may pose a lower risk of contamination. “Produce from local farms, particularly given the breadth of and distribution of cases across the country, the sheer number of cases, it does suggest somewhere much further up in the supply chain as a source of contamination,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News.At the Catonsville Farmers Market, local farmers, like Cynthia Yingling, of Glenville Hollow Farms, told WBAL-TV 11 News she has had customers ask her about cyclosporiasis and chose her produce over going to stores.”They felt that this would be a safer option because we don’t use wash water,” Yingling told WBAL-TV 11 News. “Farmers’ markets are a better, safe choice until they figure out how to take care of it.”Gregory Horner, of Deep Run Farm, shared a similar perspective.”It’s less handling stuff. Basically, we pick it, package it, and it comes straight to the consumer. So, there’s a lot less fingers in the pot and less places where it could get contaminated,” Horner told WBAL-TV 11 News.Where are cyclospora cases?Which foods have been linked to past Cyclospora outbreaks?How to you protect your family?Video below: Dr. Ashanti Woods, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, shares his guidance for protecting yourself and your family.
BALTIMORE —
Cyclosporiasis cases in Maryland have more than doubled since last week, state health officials said.
The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed 69 cases of cyclosporiasis reported in the state, 65 of which occurred since May 1 through July 14.
| LINK: Cyclosporiasis Fact Sheet from the Maryland Department of Health’s Prevention and Health Promotion Administration
These data include cases that are domestically acquired and those associated with international travel, MDH said.
So far, health departments across Maryland have not identified a common link for cases reported so far this year.
Investigations into cyclosporiasis cases are continuously conducted by local health departments and reported to MDH.
What are the symptoms of cyclospora?
The illness, caused by a parasite found in contaminated food and water, can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fatigue.
Dr. Greg Schrank, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center, said the biggest risk is dehydration, particularly during extreme heat, as cases rise.
“What’s been quite startling with the current outbreak is the sheer number of cases in a very short period of time,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We see typically, in Maryland, a few cases each year.”
Symptoms appear about one to 14 days, usually a week, after eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, MDH said.
The most common symptom is watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Others include:
Extreme fatigueLoss of appetiteSubstantial weight lossIncreased gas and bloatingStomach cramps, nausea, vomitingLow-grade feverHow to protect against illness from cyclosporiasis
To protect against cyclosporiasis, Schrank recommends avoiding prepackaged salads, spinach or lettuce, peeling the outer layer of fruits and vegetables if possible, and cooking produce when possible, to avoid cyclosporiasis.
“It can cause very bothersome and uncomfortable symptoms, but is generally not life-threatening,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News.
He also advised seeing a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than one or two days, as testing can confirm a cyclosporiasis diagnosis.
“If the diagnosis is made, there is an antibiotic treatment that can shorten the duration of symptoms and lessen the severity of symptoms, and so, especially if you do identify yourself as somebody that’s more vulnerable, getting that earlier diagnosis can really help prevent that prolonged syndrome of diarrhea and then any complications from it,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Produce from local farms may pose lower risk
Schrank explained that produce from local farms may pose a lower risk of contamination.
“Produce from local farms, particularly given the breadth of and distribution of cases across the country, the sheer number of cases, it does suggest somewhere much further up in the supply chain as a source of contamination,” Schrank told WBAL-TV 11 News.
At the Catonsville Farmers Market, local farmers, like Cynthia Yingling, of Glenville Hollow Farms, told WBAL-TV 11 News she has had customers ask her about cyclosporiasis and chose her produce over going to stores.
“They felt that this would be a safer option because we don’t use wash water,” Yingling told WBAL-TV 11 News. “Farmers’ markets are a better, safe choice until they figure out how to take care of it.”
Gregory Horner, of Deep Run Farm, shared a similar perspective.
“It’s less handling stuff. Basically, we pick it, package it, and it comes straight to the consumer. So, there’s a lot less fingers in the pot and less places where it could get contaminated,” Horner told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Where are cyclospora cases?
Which foods have been linked to past Cyclospora outbreaks?
How to you protect your family?
Video below: Dr. Ashanti Woods, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, shares his guidance for protecting yourself and your family.