HONOLULU
—
The
Hawaiʻi
Department
of
Health
(DOH)
is
investigating
a
sixth
reported
case
of
cyclosporiasis.
The
case
involves
an
Oʻahu
resident
who
became
ill
at
the
end
of
July
and
did
not
travel
outside
Hawaiʻi
during
the
period
when
they
were
likely
exposed.
The
five
cases
previously
reported
in
Hawaiʻi
since
the
beginning
of
July
all
involved
individuals
who
had
traveled
outside
Hawaiʻi
during
their
likely
exposure
periods.

Because
the
individual
did
not
travel,
DOH
investigators
are
carefully
reviewing
potential
food
and
other
exposures
to
determine
whether
and
how
the
infection
may
have
been
acquired
locally.
At
this
time,
no
suspected
contaminated
food
source
has
been
identified.
Cyclosporiasis
can
occur
sporadically,
including
in
tropical
climates.
A
single
locally
acquired
case
does
not
change
the
overall
risk
assessment
for
the
general
public,
which
remains
low.
DOH
will
continue
to
update
the
public
on
investigation
findings
as
they
become
available.

Cyclosporiasis
is
an
intestinal
illness
caused
by
the
microscopic
parasite
Cyclospora
cayetanensis.
People
become
infected
by
consuming
food
or
water
contaminated
with
the
parasite.
Symptoms
usually
begin
about
one
week
after
exposure
but
can
appear
anywhere
from
two
days
to
two
weeks
later.
The
most
common
symptom
is
frequent,
watery
diarrhea.
Other
symptoms
may
include
loss
of
appetite,
weight
loss,
stomach
cramps
or
bloating,
nausea,
increased
gas,
fatigue
and,
less
commonly,
vomiting
or
low-grade
fever.

You
can
reduce
your
risk
of
cyclosporiasis
by:

• Washing
  your
  hands
  with
  soap
  and
  water
  before
  preparing
  or
  eating
  food
  and
  after
  using
  the
  restroom.
• Washing
  fresh
  fruits
  and
  vegetables
  under
  running
  water
  before
  eating,
  cutting
  or
  cooking
  them.
• Seeking
  medical
  care
  if
  you
  experience
  severe
  diarrhea
  or
  diarrhea
  lasting
  longer
  than
  a
  few
  days.

Cyclosporiasis
is
treatable
with
prescription
antibiotics.
Without
treatment,
symptoms
may
last
for
several
weeks
or
longer
and
can
come
and
go.
Individuals
experiencing
diarrhea
lasting
longer
than
a
few
days
should
contact
their
healthcare
provider.
Healthcare
providers
who
suspect
cyclosporiasis
are
encouraged
to
report
cases
to
DOH
and
submit
appropriate
specimens
to
commercial
laboratories
for
specialized
testing.

Cyclospora
is
not
known
to
spread
directly
from
person
to
person.
The
parasite
is
shed
in
the
feces
of
infected
people
and
must
mature
outside
the
body,
in
the
environment,
before
it
becomes
infectious.
People
become
infected
when
mature
Cyclospora
parasites
contaminate
food
or
water.
In
the
United
States,
past
outbreaks
have
most
often
been
linked
to
certain
fresh
produce
items.

National,
state
and
local
public
health
officials
continue
to
investigate
a
multistate
outbreak
of
cyclosporiasis
linked
to
iceberg
lettuce
processed
by
Taylor
Farms
de
Mexico.
Taylor
Farms
de
Mexico
initiated
a
recall
of
all
iceberg
lettuce
sourced
from
central
Mexico
on
July
17,
2026.
Most
illnesses
associated
with
the
outbreak
began
before
the
recall.
As
of
Aug.
20,
the
outbreak
includes
10,930
illnesses
reported
from
17
states.
No
recalled
iceberg
lettuce
was
identified
as
being
distributed
to
or
sold
in
Hawaiʻi.
The
DOH
and
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
and
Prevention
are
working
to
determine
whether
any
of
the
cases
in
Hawaiʻi
could
be
related
to
this
or
other
multistate
cyclosporiasis
outbreaks.

The
DOH
will
continue
to
investigate
potential
sources
of
Cyclospora
infection
and
monitor
for
additional
cases.
DOH
is
committed
to
working
with
healthcare
providers
and
its
partners
to
safeguard
the
health
of
Hawaiʻi
residents
and
visitors.

For
more
information
about
cyclosporiasis,
visit
the

Hawaiʻi
Department
of
Health
Disease
Outbreak
Control
Division
website.

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