ATLANTA — In a pressing public health directive, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Advisory notifying clinicians and public health practitioners of a substantial surge in domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases across multiple U.S. states.

Since May 1, 2026, the CDC has documented 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis, with over 5,100 additional cases pending analysis. This figure represents a staggering escalation compared to the 249 cases reported nationally during the same period last year, signaling a critical watershed moment for foodborne illness surveillance.

The CDC, in collaboration with the FDA and state health departments, is actively investigating multistate clusters, including one prominent outbreak exceeding 400 cases across at least four states. Because the parasite is notoriously difficult to detect via standard ova and parasite examinations, the agency strongly advises clinicians to specifically request PCR-based testing when the illness is medically suspected.

As the investigation unfolds, public health officials emphasize that vigilant reporting and collaborative traceback efforts are paramount to identifying the common food source and mitigating further community transmission.