First fatalities reported in seasonal cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States

The deaths mark the first confirmed fatalities of the current season's outbreak. Reporting from Michigan indicates that state health officials have linked local cases to ready-to-eat salads produced by Taylor Farms. The same supplier has been tied to previous multi-state outbreaks investigated by federal regulators, and the company has previously issued voluntary recalls when contamination was suspected.

Taylor Farms linked to Michigan cases

Federal investigators from the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration typically trace cyclosporiasis clusters by interviewing patients about what they ate in the two weeks before falling ill and by testing produce samples. Past outbreaks have been linked to imported leafy greens, herbs and berries, particularly those washed or grown in conditions where contaminated water could reach the crop. Because Cyclospora is resistant to routine chemical disinfectants used on produce, washing alone does not reliably remove it.

This season's cluster underscores how quickly a single contaminated shipment can seed cases across many states. Health departments usually count a case as part of an outbreak when multiple patients share a common food source, even if they live in different parts of the country. Clusters linked to packaged salads, in particular, can spread widely because the products are distributed nationally under several retail brands.

Michigan response and consumer guidance

In Michigan, local health departments have urged consumers to discard any ready-to-eat salad products associated with Taylor Farms that remain in their refrigerators. Retailers in the state have been instructed to pull affected items from shelves. Similar warnings have appeared in other jurisdictions as the investigation has expanded.

Treatment for cyclosporiasis is straightforward: a short course of the antibiotic combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole usually resolves the infection, and most healthy patients recover fully within a few weeks. People who experience severe or prolonged diarrhea, especially those with weakened immune systems, are advised to contact a health care provider and to be tested specifically for Cyclospora, since routine stool tests do not always detect the parasite.

Treatment and prevention

Public-health messaging this season has stressed prevention: thoroughly washing produce when possible, separating raw leafy greens from other foods, refrigerating cut fruit and vegetables promptly, and seeking medical care for diarrhea that lasts more than a few days. The CDC recommends that anyone who develops cyclosporiasis symptoms after eating a ready-to-eat salad report the illness to their local health department so it can be added to the outbreak investigation.

The CDC and the FDA continue to monitor case counts nationwide and update their public dashboards as new reports are confirmed. Officials have not yet released a final tally of cases, hospitalizations or deaths for the 2026 season. Until the season closes at the end of August, the agencies expect additional reports and are urging clinicians to consider cyclosporiasis in patients with compatible symptoms and relevant food exposures.