Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Situation Report
A large, ongoing national outbreak of Cyclosporiasis is affecting Ohio and Cuyahoga County. Federal partners have linked the outbreak to recalled iceberg lettuce, and illnesses continue to be reported in many states.
The federal investigation is ongoing · current Cuyahoga County case numbers update daily in the dashboard below.
Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce
A large multistate outbreak of Cyclosporiasis has been linked to recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. The lettuce was recalled because it may be contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. It was sold in many states, including Ohio, both at retail stores and through restaurants and food service.
What to do: Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce. Check the current FDA recall notice to see which products, sizes, and dates are affected, then throw the product away or return it to the store for a full refund. If you have symptoms of cyclosporiasis, contact your health care provider — especially if you ate iceberg lettuce in the two weeks before you got sick. Clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the lettuce touched.
Read the current FDA recall notice · FDA outbreak advisory · CDC outbreak page
What our local investigation is finding
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health is interviewing residents who became ill as part of this outbreak to better understand how people were exposed and who is most affected. So far, what we are learning locally is consistent with the national investigation and with the recalled iceberg lettuce identified by federal partners. Most people report the typical symptoms of cyclosporiasis — watery diarrhea that may come and go, fatigue, loss of appetite, and stomach cramping — and most recover, though illness can be more serious for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.
Detailed local findings and current case numbers are shown in the dashboard below, which our disease team updates as the investigation continues.
Cuyahoga County cases by date
Updated daily by 4:00 PMCuyahoga County Board of Health jurisdiction · suspected and confirmed cases. Suspected cases are laboratory positive but clinical symptoms have not yet been confirmed by case interview.
Outbreak background
Since the spring of 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a sharp national increase in cases of Cyclosporiasis. That increase has also been seen in Ohio, including here in Cuyahoga County. Cyclosporiasis cases normally rise during the spring and summer, but this year’s season has been much larger than usual.
Why numbers differ between sources
You may see different case numbers from local, state, and federal agencies. This is normal: they count slightly different things (for example, confirmed cases only, versus confirmed plus probable cases) and they update on different schedules. For Cuyahoga County, the dashboard above is our source of truth and updates daily.
Cuyahoga County Board of Health response
The CCBH is conducting appropriate follow-up with confirmed and suspected cases. This work includes, but is not limited to:
- Case interviews with confirmed and suspected patients
- Laboratory analysis and coordination of diagnostic testing
- Environmental health follow-up as needed
What Cuyahoga County residents should do
- Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce. Check the current FDA recall notice for the products, sizes, and dates affected, then throw it away or return it to the store for a refund.
- Call your health care provider if you have symptoms — particularly diarrhea that comes and goes. Mention any iceberg lettuce you ate in the two weeks before you got sick, and ask about testing for Cyclospora.
- Take extra care if you are higher-risk. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems can become more seriously ill. See guidance for higher-risk groups.
- Answer the call if we reach out. If you are sick, CCBH or state health officials may contact you to ask what you ate. Your answers help identify contaminated food faster.
- Clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that touched recalled lettuce.
More on protecting yourself: Prevention & Food Safety. What the illness is and how it is treated: Cyclosporiasis fact sheet.
Resources & downloads
Printable fact sheets from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Both open as PDF documents.
Cyclosporiasis Fact Sheet
Plain-language overview of Cyclosporiasis — symptoms, how it spreads, treatment, and food-safety steps for residents.
Open fact sheetGuidance for Health Providers
Clinical guidance for the current outbreak — presentation, testing, treatment, and reporting.
Open provider guidanceSources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outbreak and recall notices; Ohio Department of Health; Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Informatics. Information is preliminary and is updated as the investigation continues.
Please direct questions and concerns to the CCBH Disease Team
Our team can help with reporting, exposure questions, and guidance for residents and providers.