Father and child chopping vegetables for salad

Protecting Your Family from Cyclospora: Summer Food & Water Safety

September 2, 2026 General /Family

protect healthybaby How to Protect Your Family from Cyclospora

Food safety is always a hot topic in the summer; rising temperatures means more bacteria growth when food isn’t handled properly. And when the weather warms up, other tiny, unwelcome visitors also come to town: parasites.

Recently, a parasite called Cyclospora (sigh-clo-SPORE-uh) has been in the news due to outbreaks, possibly linked to fresh salad greens. Let’s look at what this tiny bug is, how it spreads, and the simple steps you can take to help keep you and your little ones safe.

question parasite What is a Parasite?

A parasite is a tiny living thing (a germ) that lives inside or on another living thing. Some parasites are big enough to see, like ticks or lice. Others, like Cyclospora, are so microscopic that you can’t see them at all.

Cyclospora gets into food or water through tiny, invisible amounts of feces (poop). If someone swallows it, it can cause a stomach illness called cyclosporiasis.

Bacteria magnified over fruits and vegetables
Woman with stomachache looking unwell on couch

healthy baby Signs of Cyclospora:

If you or your child swallows this parasite, you won’t get sick right away. It usually takes 2 days to 2 weeks for symptoms to start.

Symptoms may include:

  • Severe, watery diarrhea that lasts for more than three days
  • Stomach cramps and bloating
  • Nausea or feeling sick to your stomach

From 2016 to 2019, Cyclospora infections increased 875% in the United States. In July of 2026, one outbreak caused 5,000 suspected infections in 34 states. 1 out of every 11 people with the illness have been hospitalized.

alert-white
Because this illness causes a lot of diarrhea, kids can get dehydrated quickly. If your child has these symptoms, call your pediatrician or healthcare provider right away.

people heart How to Protect Your Family

It can be hard to pinpoint exactly what causes cyclosporiasis outbreaks, because it can take up to 2 weeks after contact with the parasite before symptoms appear.

Here are a few things to know to help protect your family from getting sick.

Water Safety: Pools, Lakes, and Splash Pads
Many parents are surprised to learn that chlorine in swimming pools doesn’t easily kill Cyclospora. It can survive in pool water, water parks, and splash pads, as well as in natural lakes and streams.
To help keep your family safe around water:
  • Teach the "no swallowing" rule: Remind kids to never gulp or swallow water when swimming in pools, splash pads, lakes, or the ocean.
  • Stay home if sick: If anyone in your family has diarrhea, don’t go to public pools or water parks. This stops the germs from spreading to other children and families.
  • Wash hands with soap: Hand sanitizer doesn’t work well against parasites. Instead, wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, touching pets, and before and after handling raw produce.
Mother holding smiling baby in swimming pool
Kitchen Safety: Shopping and Food Prep

You don’t have to skip fresh summer fruits and veggies! You just need to handle them a little differently during an outbreak.

Here’s how:
  • Avoid "high-risk" foods if there is an outbreak: Foods like bagged salad, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, green onions, snow peas, and fresh raspberries are the most common culprits for carrying this parasite.
  • Cook foods properly: Cooking foods to 158oF or higher is the most effective way to kill the parasite.
  • Skip the bagged salads: Instead of bagged salad kits, buy whole heads of lettuce. Pull off and throw away the outer 2 to 3 leaves, then wash the inner leaves one by one under cold water. If you do buy pre-packaged produce – even if it says 
it’s “pre-washed” – it’s still best to give it another rinse under cold water.
Woman tossing fresh salad in wooden bowl
  • Refrigerate quickly: Put cut fruits and veggies in the fridge right away.
Tip!
Wash produce the right way: A quick rinse under the tap isn’t enough to wash away parasites, and while washing alone can’t 
fully eliminate Cyclospora, it’s still highly recommended to reduce your risk. 

  • The 1-Minute Rinse: Rub veggies under running tap water for a full minute. Use a clean veggie brush on firm foods like melons or cucumbers.
  • The Vinegar Soak: Mix 1 part white vinegar with 3 parts water. Soak your produce in the bowl for 1 minute while stirring it around, then rinse with plain water for 30 seconds.
  • The Salad Spinner Swish: Put your greens in a salad spinner filled with water, swish them around for 1 minute, dump the water, and spin dry.

bottle drink What’s Safe to Drink?

  • Tap and Bottled Water: Tap water from your kitchen sink and sealed bottled water are safe. If you use a water filter at home, check the box to make sure it is certified to remove "cysts" (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58).
  • Boil Water if Needed: If your town issues a "boil water advisory," bring your tap water to a rolling boil for 1 full minute (or 3 minutes if you live high up in the mountains), then allow it to cool before drinking, cooking, or brushing your teeth with it.
  • Avoid Unpasteurized Drinks: Don’t give your kids unpasteurized milk, raw juices, or apple ciders often sold at roadside stands. "Pasteurized" means the drink was heated to kill dangerous bacteria and parasites.
Young boy drinking water from bottle outdoors
If you have questions about water or food safety in your neighborhood, your local health department is the best, most reliable place to get the facts!
Remember!

REFERENCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (February 27, 2024). Areas at Risk for Cyclosporiasis.
https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/data-research/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (January 30, 2025). About water treatment options when hiking, camping or traveling.
https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/prevention/water-treatment-hiking-camping-traveling.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April 10, 2024). About choosing home water filters.
https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/prevention/about-choosing-home-water-filters.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (November 14, 2024). About parasites.
https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/about/index.html

CNN. (July 14, 2026). Outbreak of diarrhea from parasite expands to more states as US cases soar beyond last year’s level.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/14/health/parasite-diarrhea-states-increase

New York Times. (July 14, 2026). Lettuce or Salad Greens Identified as Potential Source of Cyclospora Outbreak.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/well/eat/michigan-cyclospora-outbreak-lettuce-salad-greens.html

PBS. (July 13, 2026). What we know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to produce.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-we-know-about-the-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-linked-to-produce

Radhika Gharpure, Ariana Perez, Allison D. Miller, Mary E. Wikswo, Rachel Silver, Michele C. Hlavsa, Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks — United States, 2009–2017, American Journal of Transplantation, Volume 19, Issue 9, 2019, Pages 2650-2654,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1600613522092413

By: Bridget Swinney MS, RDN, LD