OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
4:29 PM – Monday, July 13, 2026
A severe gastrointestinal illness continues to rapidly spread across Michigan as the number of confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis surged past 2,600 over the weekend. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Monday that the state has now recorded 2,640 cases since June 22, 2026.
The spike is an increase of more than 1,000 newly reported infections since July 10th, when the case count stood at 1,562. State health data also suggests that at least 44 individuals have been hospitalized due to severe complications from the foodborne parasite.
The outbreak is being caused by “cyclospora cayetanensis,” a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine and causes a diarrheal illness known as cyclosporiasis. According to public health data, the infection typically results from consuming food or water contaminated with human feces, often traced back to fresh produce imported from poorer developing countries during hot summer weather.
The illness cannot be passed directly from person to person. Victims generally experience symptoms between two and 14 days after exposure, which include “frequent, watery, and sometimes explosive” diarrhea, along with bloating, severe abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss, according to health officials.
While the disease is rarely life-threatening and can be treated with specific antibiotics, health officials note that left untreated, symptoms can persist for over a month and frequently relapse.
State and local investigators are still working to trace the infection back to its origin, though pinpointing a definitive culprit has proven difficult for officials. Public health spokespersons have stated that previous North American outbreaks have been tied to fresh produce items like “bagged salad mixes, cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas, and green onions.”
Nonetheless, the scale and rapid progression of the current outbreak have added hurdles to the epidemiological investigation.
Highlighting these administrative and logistical challenges, Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian commented on the strain placed on tracking systems, adding, “So we have 700 people who need to be interviewed, which makes things significantly more complicated. But I can tell you that our main hypothesis right now is contaminated produce.”
Meanwhile, the crisis has reportedly hit Southeast Michigan the hardest, with the highest concentration of cases heavily clustered in Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Wayne, Shiawassee, Jackson, Oakland and Livingston counties. As of the most recent geographic analysis, confirmed infections have spanned at least 40 different counties across the state, completely eclipsing Michigan’s historical baseline of roughly 50 total cases annually.
Since no specific brand, supplier, or grower has been officially identified yet, public health agencies are advising commercial kitchens, restaurants, and residents to take strict precautionary measures when handling fresh vegetables and fruits.
In an official advisory addressing the public response to the spike, Michigan’s HHS declared, “Anyone experiencing gastrointestinal illness, such as sudden and ongoing diarrhea, should contact their health care provider and their local health department.”
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