Cyclosporiasis in New York City
Is cyclosporiasis going around in New York City?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. In the United States, cases rise every spring and summer, typically from May through August, and outbreaks are usually traced to fresh produce such as imported herbs, salad greens and berries.
It is easy to miss. The diarrhea can drag on for weeks and come back after seeming to clear, and a standard stool test will not find it unless the lab is asked to look for Cyclospora specifically.
Know the signs
Cyclosporiasis symptoms
- Watery diarrhea, often profuse and prolonged
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Stomach cramps, bloating and gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
How it spreads
People get infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite. It is not typically spread directly from person to person, because the parasite needs days to weeks outside the body before it becomes infectious. Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure.
The local picture
Cyclospora in the five boroughs
HealthNarc imports the CDC's weekly provisional cyclosporiasis counts for New York City and combines them with community reports of prolonged diarrhea and stomach symptoms.
During national produce outbreaks, New York often accounts for a meaningful share of cases. A summer rise in the numbers here is usually a signal to check the CDC's current outbreak notices.
What to do
Cyclosporiasis is treated with a specific antibiotic, so a diagnosis matters. If you have watery diarrhea lasting more than a few days, particularly in summer, ask a healthcare provider to test for Cyclospora.
Where the data comes from
Sources for Cyclospora data
The live figure above is the citywide count from the official feed HealthNarc imports (NYC Health or the CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System) for the latest four published weeks, compared with the four weeks before. Where no official feed exists, it falls back to community reports from the last 28 days. For exposure notices and guidance, use these sources:
In the news
Cyclospora headlines
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Common questions
Cyclospora in NYC: questions people ask
- Which foods are linked to cyclosporiasis?
- Past US outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce including cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas, lettuce and pre-packaged salad mixes. Washing produce helps but does not reliably remove the parasite.
- Is cyclosporiasis contagious?
- It is not considered directly contagious from person to person. The parasite has to mature in the environment before it can infect someone else.
- Why does it peak in summer?
- Because that is when the fresh produce most often implicated is in season and imported in large volumes, and when the parasite thrives in warm conditions.
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