An outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection, has led to thousands of reported cases across the United States, resulting in severe illness, hospitalizations, and ongoing legal action. Victims describe debilitating symptoms including relentless diarrhea, fatigue, and cramping, with some requiring multiple hospital admissions.
Cristy Lee Cooper, who has a pre-existing condition and is on dialysis, has been hospitalized three times since late June. She reported experiencing up to 30 bowel movements a day and has lost nearly 20 pounds. Her treatment has been complicated by a sulfa drug allergy, the standard first-line treatment for the infection. Doctors have resorted to alternative antibiotics and, in her case, a microdosing approach with intravenous Bactrim. Cooper's symptoms, including severe joint pain and muscle atrophy, have necessitated a lengthy physical therapy regimen.
Another affected individual, Army veteran David Ott, 47, experienced extreme cramping, fever, nausea, and headaches after eating at Taco Bell locations in Ohio. His symptoms led to hospitalization, where doctors found severe intestinal inflammation that restricted blood flow. Initial tests for common bacterial infections came back negative, delaying diagnosis. Ott eventually tested positive for cyclospora after his stool sample was sent to a specialized lab. He has since filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms, seeking accountability for the outbreak.
Maria Aguilo, 23, a marathon runner from St. Louis, Missouri, experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and excruciating cramping that left her bedridden for three weeks. After standard tests for other illnesses were negative, she pushed for cyclospora testing, which eventually confirmed the infection. Aguilo believes her illness may be linked to strawberries or romaine lettuce she consumed.
Health officials are investigating the source of the outbreak. The FDA initially pointed to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms supplied to Taco Bell. Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, 2026, and Taco Bell has stated it no longer uses that supplier. However, subsequent FDA testing of lettuce samples yielded a false positive, and the investigation remains ongoing. "Most people think contamination like this happens because of a dirty surface they can see, or a restaurant with shady practices, but cyclospora doesn't follow that rule," noted Texas-based food safety expert Jason Reese. The parasite is difficult to detect with standard tests, often requires multiple samples for diagnosis, and can survive for weeks or months due to its tough outer shell. Symptoms can also take over a week to appear, complicating outbreak tracing.
Cyclosporiasis is typically spread through contaminated fresh produce, such as leafy greens and berries, which are difficult to clean thoroughly. The parasite contaminates produce at the farm level through infected human feces. Experts recommend thorough handwashing, using clean utensils and cutting boards, and cooking vegetables to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills the parasite. They also suggest opting for produce with peels and scrubbing firm items with a brush when washing.