Over 700 cyclosporiasis cases reported in North Carolina since May 1

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on Tuesday that there have been 718 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis statewide, and 24 hospitalizations since May 1, 2026.

Cases of cyclosporiasis continue to rise in Wake County. As of Tuesday, the county has confirmed 435 cases since May 1, 2026. 

Two more people have been hospitalized from the parasite, bringing the number of people hospitalized in Wake County to nine. 

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The majority of cases in North Carolina have been reported in Wake County. 

State health officials are working to determine sources of the parasite. Wake County Department of Health and Human Services said they believe the outbreak is coming from multiple sources. 

The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located.

“This is an active investigation, and officials are working together to determine the specific cause of illnesses in this cluster,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in an email Thursday.

Federal officials earlier this week said they remained focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a separate, multistate outbreak. The company last week announced it was recalling iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal and state health authorities have been investigating separate clusters of cyclospora illnesses, including the one traced to Taylor Farms.

Food safety tips include washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food. Experts say cooking can kill the parasite and advise cooking produce to a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius.)