(July 17, 2026) – Cyclosporiasis cases continue to spread across the US, including in Kansas. A Kansas Department of Health and Environment Health Alert Network issued July 15 noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases nationwide and more than 5,100 cases under investigation to confirm domestic vs. international acquisition. In Kansas, KDHE is reporting 55 total cases of cyclosporiasis so far this year, with 37 of those cases classified as domestically acquired. Thirty of those 37 domestic cases have been reported since June 24. While cyclosporiasis cases vary from year to year, with 69 cases reported in 2021, this is more than double the number of cases reported at this time last year. KDHE is working with local health departments to determine potential common exposure(s) to help prevent further illness. Individuals diagnosed with cyclosporiasis are encouraged to contact their local health department to help identify a potential cause.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and low-grade fever. The incubation period can range from two to14 days, and illness may last from days to more than a month. Symptoms may resolve and then return. Most healthy individuals will recover without treatment; however, individuals with suppressed immune systems or comorbidities may require treatment. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) is the treatment of choice. KDHE advises providers to consider cyclosporiasis in patients presenting with acute gastrointestinal illness. If indicated, KDHE recommends that health care providers specifically request testing for Cyclospora because testing for Cyclospora is not routinely conducted by the state lab or in most laboratories in the US. KDHE also reported that not all gastrointestinal polymerase chain reaction panels include a target for Cyclospora. KDHE Epidemiology is tracking cyclosporiasis cases in Kansas and including this information in the KDHE Local Partners Monthly Update. KDHE created a Cyclospora Investigation Guideline in 2021 that is still available online.
--Karen Braman