Foodborne Infections: The Latest on Cyclosporiasis, Salmonella, and Avocado Inspections

Cyclospora Outbreak Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 10,468 domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1, 2026, as it investigates a multistate outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce. The agency says it is also aware of more than 12,255 additional cases that have not been laboratory-confirmed or are still under investigation with the largest amount reported by Michigan.¹

Yesterday, Michigan health officials reported the state's cyclosporiasis outbreak has now reached 12,218 total cases, with 193 reported cases resulting in hospitalization as of July 30, 2026. Two deaths have also been identified as part of the outbreak; according to medical records, both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.²

Notably, both Michigan deaths occurred in people who became ill before the FDA's July 17 voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce tied to the outbreak, and no further details will be released about these two cases. Health officials emphasize that cyclosporiasis is generally not a life-threatening illness, and death from the infection remains uncommon in the United States.²

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora, typically spread through contaminated food or water. It is a nationally notifiable disease and reportable in 47 states, the District of Columbia and New York City.¹

The current surge is centered on a recall issued July 17, 2026, when Taylor Farms pulled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico that had been sold at retail stores, served in restaurants, and distributed to food service customers. CDC, the FDA, and state health officials are jointly investigating the outbreak, which the agency says has contributed significantly to this year's case increase. Because case numbers are running well above the same period in 2025, CDC has begun publishing surveillance updates weekly rather than at its usual pace.¹

Among the confirmed domestic cases reported between May 1 and August 3, 517 people have been hospitalized and 2 have died. Patients ranged in age from 1 to 98, with a median age of 45, and 56% were female. The median date of illness onset was July 4, with cases ranging from May 1 to July 28. All of these individuals reported eating food in the US and had no international travel in the 14 days before falling ill.¹

CDC cautions that its figures likely undercount the true scale of the outbreak. The agency estimates roughly a six-week lag between when someone gets sick and when their case is reported, meaning current counts are expected to keep climbing as more data comes in. Some people who recover without seeking medical care are never tested for Cyclospora and so never appear in official tallies. State health departments, CDC notes, may also have more current information about cases in their own jurisdictions than what shows up in federal data.¹

Cyclosporiasis cases typically climb during the spring and summer, with the US outbreak season running from May 1 through August 31, though clusters have appeared outside that window in past years. CDC and other agencies continue working to refine molecular tools that can more precisely link cases to a common source.¹

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Jalapeño Peppers Sickens 345 Across 27 States

Health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections tied to jalapeño peppers, which has sickened 345 people across 27 states as of August 4, 2026. The CDC, the FDA, and public health and regulatory officials in several states are collecting epidemiologic and traceback data as part of the investigation.³

That data points to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors as the likely source of contamination. Of the 291 patients with hospitalization information available, 36 — about 12% — have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.³

Illnesses began between June 19 and July 20, 2026. Officials caution that the true scope of the outbreak is likely larger than reported, since many people recover without seeking medical care and are never tested for Salmonella, and recent illnesses can take three to four weeks to be confirmed as part of the outbreak. The outbreak may also extend beyond the states where cases have already been identified.³

To trace the source, investigators have interviewed sick people about what they ate in the week before falling ill. Among 191 people interviewed, 177 — or 93% — reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant, including locations of Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA, with meal dates spanning June 14 to July 14, 2026.³

Investigators have also identified 27 illness clusters at Chipotle and QDOBA locations across seven states. A cluster is defined as two or more people who don't live together but report eating at the same restaurant, attending the same event, or shopping at the same store location within the same window before getting sick—a pattern that helps pinpoint where contaminated food may have been served or sold. Among the clusters tied to this outbreak, commonly reported menu ingredients included jalapeño peppers, red onion, cilantro and avocado.³

US Halting Avocado Inspections in the Mexican State of Michoacan

NBC News reports the US announced Wednesday that it has suspended all government operations in the Mexican state of Michoacan, citing a "threat to US interests." The move includes a halt to inspections required for avocados to be exported to the US, raising the possibility of disrupted shipments from the country's leading avocado-producing region.⁴

The US Embassy's security alert did not detail the nature of the threat. Michoacan Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla said on social media that the pause in inspections was meant to protect workers following recent arrests tied to extortion.⁴

Michoacan is Mexico's top avocado exporter to the U.S. and is also home to significant organized crime activity, with at least four cartels — designated terrorist organizations by the Trump administration — operating in the state. Beyond drug trafficking, these groups generate revenue through extortion, including of the avocado industry.⁴

References

1.Surveillance of Cyclosporiasis. CDC. August 4, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/php/surveillance/index.html

2. Infectious Disease Outbreaks. Michigan Health and Human Services. August 5, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026.
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/infectious-diseases/infectious-disease-outbreaks

3. Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, August 2026. CDC. August 5, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026.
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/javiana-08-26/investigation.html

4. U.S. suspends avocado inspections in Mexican state of Michoacan due to threat. NBC News. August 6, 2026. Accessed August 6, 2026.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-suspends-avocado-inspection-mexican-state-michoacan-organized-crime-rcna591107