How many people actually have cyclosporiasis? Why it’s so hard to track

(NewsNation) — Thousands of cyclosporiasis, or explosive diarrhea, cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since May 1.

The CDC has recorded 13,895 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite named Cyclospora. An additional 10,455 cases need further analysis, the agency said.

For comparison, only 1,180 cases were reported in the U.S. between May 1, 2025, and Aug. 31, 2025.

The current outbreak has been attributed to contaminated iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. Cyclosporiasis can occur after a person is exposed to produce or drinking water that has been contaminated with human........

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