The United States is experiencing the worst Cyclospora outbreak in its documented history. As of July 23, 2026, more than 11,000 confirmed or probable cyclosporiasis cases have been reported to the CDC, compared to 2,700 total cases in all of 2025 and approximately 4,500 in 2023, the previous single-year peak, according to NBC News reporting on the latest federal data. The scale of the 2026 outbreak has no historical precedent in the United States for this parasitic illness.
Federal investigators are simultaneously tracking multiple distinct clusters with different suspected sources, a complication that reflects both the scale and complexity of this outbreak. While the Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce recall linked to Taco Bell restaurants in five states remains the most clearly traced cluster, investigators have confirmed that this single-source cluster does not explain the full national case count. Multiple other clusters, including a new 72-case cluster identified by the FDA on July 23 with no food source yet identified, remain under active investigation.
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