New outbreak of explosive diarrhea parasite reported by FDA — with 72 cases and no known source

A new outbreak of cyclosporiasis is under investigation, with at least 72 cases reported so far, the FDA said Wednesday.

There is currently no known source yet for the new outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration said.

Cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite, have swelled to 11,500 in 41 states, with more than 4,000 cases confirmed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been six outbreaks of cyclosporiasis so far this year, three times more than all of last year.

There were fewer than 150 confirmed cases of the parasite last year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had identified a likely link among cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky earlier this week. 

Michigan alone has reported 7,171 cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026, with 600 new cases reported since Tuesday. 

The original parasite outbreak was initially believed to have been linked with lettuce from Taylor Farms, a Taco Bell supplier, but the FDA announced over the weekend that the tests were a false positive.

Despite the false positive, the FDA insisted that the parasite outbreak may have still originated with the Mexican supplier. 

Taylor Farms ordered a recall of the potentially tainted iceberg lettuce, which was sent to 27 states and sold to Americans at grocery stores and Taco Bell restaurants.  

The parasite can cause cyclosporiasis, which is characterized by symptoms like loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, gas, nausea and fatigue, in addition to watery diarrhea, according to food safety regulators. 

Here’s the latest on the ‘explosive’ cyclosporiasis outbreak:

Some people may become infected and be asymptomatic, according to the CDC.  

Taco Bell Owner Yum! Brands’ stock has fallen, along with shares of Sweetgreen and Chipotle over worries about the outbreak. 

With Post Wires