Cyclospora Outbreak 2026: Live Tracker (U.S. & Canada)

Maintained tracker · Reviewed by Madison Ordway, FDN-P
Reviewed 15 July 2026 · figures refreshed 8 September 2026 (figures pending re-review) — each one carries its own “as of” date.

United States snapshot

Two different totals get quoted for 2026 and they are not the same number. Keeping them apart is the whole point of this page:

• The iceberg-lettuce outbreak — 11,458 cases across 20 states, with 495 hospitalizations and 2 deaths, both reported in Michigan. New cases are declining, the recalled product’s best-by dates have passed, and CDC has reduced its update frequency — but the investigation is still open. (CDC, as of 3 September 2026.)
• All U.S. cyclosporiasis acquired domestically — 18,445 laboratory-confirmed cases since 1 May 2026, reported by 49 states plus the District of Columbia. CDC continues to investigate other outbreaks and illnesses unrelated to the lettuce one. (CDC, as of 1 September 2026.)

In the U.S., Cyclospora infections cluster seasonally between 1 May and 31 August. These figures move — re-check the CDC outbreak page for the current totals.

Which U.S. states are affected? (2026 outbreak map)

20 states are counted in the iceberg-lettuce outbreak as of 3 September 2026, three of them added in the most recent CDC update. Nationally, across all sources, 49 states plus the District of Columbia have reported cases since 1 May. Michigan has been the hardest hit by state count through the season and is where both of the outbreak’s deaths were reported. Because the state-by-state numbers change with every CDC update, we don’t reproduce a fixed map here — the authoritative, current Cyclospora outbreak map and state case counts live on the CDC outbreak page.

Canada status

As of 8 September 2026, PHAC’s public health notices reported no active enteric illness outbreak investigation at all; on 15 July PHAC had already said it was not investigating a Canadian Cyclospora outbreak, and CFIA said the same day it was not considering restrictions on U.S. produce imports while continuing year-round testing of imported leafy vegetables, salad mixes, herbs, raspberries and blackberries.

Individual Canadian case counts are up, and are not part of the American outbreak — officials said in July they were seeing no link, and most Canadian cases trace to travel, chiefly to Mexico. Provinces canvassed in mid-July reported Québec 107 (as of 11 July, against about 30 for the same period in 2025), British Columbia 93, Alberta 6, Nunavut 5, Ontario 2 and Manitoba 1 under investigation, with none in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. or the Northwest Territories. For context, the last widespread Canadian outbreak was in 2017 (about 164 cases across BC, Ontario, Québec and Nova Scotia). See Cyclospora in Canada for the full picture and regional notes.

What’s the source?

In July 2026, CDC and FDA linked one multistate outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell in five states (Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia). FDA traceback pointed to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico grown on a single central-Mexico farm (which FDA said is less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg supply); on 17 July 2026 Taylor Farms de Mexico said it would voluntarily remove that lettuce and initiate a recall, while stating its branded retail salads are not implicated.

The outbreak subsequently grew well beyond those five states — to 20 as of 3 September 2026. Officials believe more than one source may be involved, and other cases nationally are considered unrelated. Full detail on our Cyclospora lettuce recall page; always confirm current status with CDC and FDA.

What this means for you

If you have symptoms, the useful next steps are understanding the outbreak symptoms to watch for and, if they persist, learning how to get tested for Cyclospora — routine stool tests often miss it. For food safety, see which foods have been linked and how to reduce risk.

Update log

• 8 Sep 2026Figures refreshed against primary sources. Outbreak: 11,458 cases / 20 states / 495 hospitalizations / 2 deaths (CDC, as of 3 Sep), replacing the 13 Jul snapshot of 1,645 confirmed / 34 states / 141 hospitalizations / no deaths. Added the separate national count of 18,445 domestically acquired lab-confirmed cases across 49 states + DC (CDC, as of 1 Sep), because the two totals were being conflated. Canada: PHAC reported no active enteric illness outbreak investigation (8 Sep); per-province counts added from the mid-July provincial canvass, with officials’ finding of no link to the U.S. outbreak. Investigation status corrected to open rather than unresolved-source. Figures pending practitioner re-review.
• 15 Jul 2026Initial published snapshot. U.S. counts as of 13 Jul 2026 (CDC); Canada status as of 15 Jul 2026 (PHAC/CFIA). Source of outbreak unconfirmed.

Frequently asked questions

How many cyclospora cases are there right now?

See the sourced snapshot above; each figure shows the date it was reported. Confirm the live total with CDC and PHAC.

Which states are affected by Cyclospora in 2026?

Twenty states are counted in the iceberg-lettuce outbreak as of 3 September 2026. Nationally, across all sources, 49 states plus the District of Columbia have reported cases since 1 May. Michigan has been hardest hit by state count and is where both of the outbreak’s deaths were reported. See the CDC outbreak page for the current state-by-state breakdown.

Is there a Cyclospora outbreak in Canada?

No. As of 8 September 2026 PHAC listed no active enteric illness outbreak investigation. Canadian case counts are up — Québec 107 by 11 July against about 30 a year earlier, British Columbia 93 — but officials reported no link to the U.S. outbreak, and most Canadian cases are travel-related, chiefly to Mexico.

Which U.S. state has the most cases?

Michigan, by state count, per CDC surveillance through the season; the outbreak’s two reported deaths were also in Michigan. State counts change with each CDC update, so treat the CDC outbreak map as the live source.

What food is causing it?

Iceberg lettuce. CDC and FDA traced the outbreak to lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico grown on a single central-Mexico farm, and a recall followed on 17 July 2026. Officials believe more than one source may be involved, and the investigation is still open.

Is it safe to eat lettuce or salad?

There was no blanket recall of lettuce — the recall covered specific Taylor Farms de Mexico product, whose best-by dates have now passed. Washing produce thoroughly, including pre-washed bags, remains the practical step; see produce & prevention for risk reduction.

Related: Complete Cyclospora guide · Symptoms · Linked foods · Canada updates · Get tested