Cyclospora in Canada: Are You at Risk?

The calm, sourced answer: whether it’s here, what the real risk is, regional notes, and what Canadians should actually do.

Educational overview · Medically reviewed by Madison Ordway, FDN-P
Last updated: 15 July 2026

Key facts

  • No current Canadian outbreak under PHAC investigation (as of 15 Jul 2026).
  • Main risk: travel and imported produce — not Canadian food or water.
  • Notifiable: reportable in all provinces and territories.
  • History: the last widespread outbreak was 2017 (BC, ON, QC, NS).

Is it in Canada? Per PHAC, Cyclospora is not commonly found on Canadian food and is not in Canadian drinking water, and there was no Canadian outbreak under investigation at last update. The real risk for Canadians is chiefly travel to endemic regions and imported produce, with a seasonal rise in spring and summer.

Cyclospora snapshot (cross-border)

A notifiable disease

Cyclosporiasis is nationally notifiable in all provinces and territories, with case data shared, and multi-jurisdiction or cross-border events triggering investigation. That surveillance is why authorities can say confidently when there is — and isn’t — a domestic outbreak.

Regional notes

  • Ontario: not endemic; cases are typically travel- or imported-food-related (Public Health Ontario).
  • Québec: reported an increase in cases in 2026.
  • British Columbia: generally travel/imported-food-related; part of the 2017 outbreak.
  • 2017 outbreak: about 164 cases across BC, Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducts year-round import surveillance and had not restricted U.S. produce imports at last update. Use the province lookup for general context:

What Canadians should do

Wash produce well (see imported-produce risk), watch for symptoms, see a provider if you become ill, and understand your stool testing options in Canada. For U.S. context, see the U.S. outbreak tracker.

Testing & shipping

The GI-MAP™ ships to Canada. Canadian ordering is handled through our Canadian site, gimaptestcanada.com. If you’re acutely ill, see a Canadian healthcare provider first.

The GI-MAP™ detects Cyclospora by qPCR and ships to Canada.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Cyclospora in Canada?

It’s not commonly found on Canadian food or water; most cases relate to travel or imported produce.

Is there a Cyclospora outbreak in Ontario / Quebec / BC?

No national outbreak was under investigation at last update; Ontario cases are travel/imported-food-related, Quebec reported an increase in 2026, BC was part of the 2017 outbreak.

Can I get Cyclospora from Canadian produce?

The parasite isn’t commonly on Canadian-grown food; imported produce and travel are the main risks.

Is cyclosporiasis a reportable disease in Canada?

Yes — nationally notifiable in all provinces and territories.

Where can I get tested for Cyclospora in Canada?

Talk to a provider about stool testing; the GI-MAP ships to Canada via gimaptestcanada.com.

Sources & further reading

  1. Public Health Agency of Canada — Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora).
  2. Public Health Ontario — Cyclosporiasis disease information.
  3. Canadian Food Inspection Agency — Food safety & imported-produce surveillance.
  4. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora).

Outbreak figures reflect the named authorities as of the dates shown and should be re-verified against the current CDC and PHAC data.

Medically reviewed by

Madison Ordway, FDN-P

Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner specializing in gut health, hormone balance and mineral optimization. Madison uses GI-MAP testing in her work with clients and has been featured in US Insider, Women’s Journal and The Science Times. See press features →

Content reviewed against CDC, PHAC and CFIA guidance, Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory documentation and peer-reviewed literature. Last reviewed 15 July 2026.

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