The CDC has stopped updating its national Cyclospora count every week, leaving the official tally for the unprecedented 2026 season at 19,883 laboratory-confirmed cases acquired in the United States. The agency's Cyclospora case data page also lists 1,064 hospitalizations, two deaths, and cases in 49 states plus Washington, D.C. During the same four months of 2025, the CDC recorded 1,180 cases.
The final total is still unknown. CDC says 9,765 more laboratory-confirmed cases need investigation to determine whether people were infected in the United States or while traveling abroad. It also knows of at least 6,594 additional cases that were not lab-confirmed or were awaiting patient interviews. From here on, the agency plans only periodic updates.
For households, the change settles one question and leaves another open. This summer's contaminated lettuce is long gone from stores, but people who had weeks of watery diarrhea in July or August may belong to a season officials are still counting.
More Than 16,000 Reports Still Unsorted as Weekly Tracking Ends
CDC says recent infections have fallen sharply, which is why it ended weekly postings. It can take about six weeks from the start of symptoms for a case to reach the agency, and CDC warns that the season's unprecedented volume means earlier cases may keep arriving past that window.
The confirmed patients skew toward middle age. Their median age is 46, with a range of 1 to 99, and 56% are female. The median symptom onset date was July 8. Another 2,078 confirmed cases tied to travel outside the United States are counted separately.
MedicalDaily previously reported that the CDC declared the iceberg lettuce outbreak over on Sept. 11 at 12,883 illnesses in 21 states, when the national season count stood at 19,595 through Sept. 8. Since then, the domestic total has grown by 288 cases, and the agency has moved from weekly to occasional reporting. The outbreak figures are final, with at least 570 hospitalizations and two deaths in Michigan, according to the CDC's final outbreak update.
Michigan's Toll and 7,000 Confirmed Cases Outside the Lettuce Outbreak
Michigan remains the hardest-hit state. The state health department had counted 14,277 cases by Aug. 20, with Wayne County, which includes Detroit, reporting the most at 2,029, Reuters reported. Both Michigan deaths involved people with significant underlying health conditions, according to the FDA.
State and federal totals differ partly because states may include probable cases, while CDC and FDA report only laboratory-confirmed infections. Neither number captures people who recovered without ever being tested.
The gap between the two federal figures raises a larger question. Subtracting the 12,883 outbreak cases from the 19,883 national total leaves roughly 7,000 confirmed domestic cases with no publicly named source, based on a MedicalDaily calculation. CDC says it and FDA are still investigating multiple clusters listed on FDA's outbreak table.
On the lettuce itself, the FDA's investigation page says inspections and sample collection at growers and a processing facility in Mexico have ended, and those samples are still awaiting analysis. Senior FDA officials also met with Mexican public health and agriculture officials during the week of Sept. 8, the agency said. FDA has sent a letter to the produce industry calling for stronger prevention at every link in the supply chain.
"While there are practices known to reduce Cyclospora risk, more work must be done," wrote Donald A. Prater, FDA's acting deputy commissioner for food. The letter reminds growers, packers, and importers of their obligations on agricultural water, worker hygiene, sanitation, and supplier verification.
Getting Tested and Treated After a Summer of Stomach Illness
Cyclosporiasis usually causes watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue. Symptoms can seem to go away and then return, sometimes more than once, according to the FDA. People with weakened immune systems may be sick longer and face more complications.
Older adults, people with chronic illness, and anyone at risk of dehydration need the closest watch.
Testing is the practical hurdle. Many routine stool tests do not look for Cyclospora, so patients with lingering diarrhea should ask whether a Cyclospora-specific test is appropriate. The infection is treatable with a prescription antibiotic, most commonly trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, so a diagnosis can shorten weeks of illness. People who cannot take that drug should discuss alternatives with a clinician.
People without insurance can seek care at federally funded community health centers, which charge on a sliding scale. Severe dehydration, fainting, or an inability to keep fluids down warrant urgent care.
There is no current risk from this summer's recalled lettuce, and FDA says the product is off the market. Consumers should still follow basic safe-handling steps and clean any containers or surfaces that touched recalled lettuce.
CDC will post periodic surveillance updates, while FDA plans to share sample results and root-cause findings. FDA also intends to update its Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan in the coming months to include lessons from this season.
The 2026 season is winding down, but the final count may rise well above 19,883 as thousands of reports are sorted. Anyone with unexplained, lingering diarrhea should ask a clinician about targeted testing rather than waiting it out.
Key Questions Answered
How many Cyclospora cases has the U.S. confirmed in 2026?
CDC lists 19,883 laboratory-confirmed cases acquired in the United States for the May 1 to Aug. 31 season, with 1,064 hospitalizations and two deaths. That compares with 1,180 cases during the same period in 2025.
Why did CDC stop weekly updates?
The agency said recent infections have declined significantly. It plans to post periodic updates instead of weekly ones.
Could the final number go higher?
Yes. CDC says 9,765 more lab-confirmed cases still need classification as domestic or travel-related, and it knows of at least 6,594 other cases pending confirmation or interviews.
Is lettuce safe to eat now?
The recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico is off the market, according to the FDA, and the CDC says it is no longer available in stores or restaurants.
What symptoms should people watch for?
Watery diarrhea, cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss are common, and symptoms can go away and return. Anyone with these symptoms should contact a clinician and mention recent produce exposure.
Is Cyclospora treatable?
Yes. A prescription antibiotic, most often trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, is the usual treatment once a specific test confirms the infection.
