5 cyclospora cases reported in Pima County

The Pima County Health Department is investigating the cause of a few local cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasite that causes severe digestive illness, as the disease has broken out in several other parts of the United States.

Eleana Acosta Zavala, an epidemiologist with the Pima County Health Department, said the first cyclospora case in Pima County this year was around March. Four more were reported in June.

The infection occurs from consuming food or water that’s been contaminated with feces, and infected people can become sick between two days to more than two weeks from when they were first exposed, according to the CDC.

The parasite can also be transmitted through pools and splash pads.

PCHD officials saw local cyclospora cases during previous summers, and the number of cases reported by Wednesday was expected, Zavala said.

Symptoms, which can last from a few days to over a month, include “watery” diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Vomiting, headaches, low-grade fever and other flu-like symptoms are also possible wih cyclosporiasis, but less common.

The cyclospora parasite is foodborn, and the CDC has linked the 2026 outbreak to several types of imported produce: basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries and snow peas.

Zavala said Wednesday the Health Department hadn’t pinpointed exactly where the disease had come from in Pima County, and couldn’t recommend the public avoid one specific type of food or activity.

She did, however, strongly recommend that people thoroughly wash produce before eating it and ensure it’s at an adequate temperature when cooking it.

If any produce has spoiled or rotten parts, she said, cutting them off can also prevent the spread of cyclospora.

Hand-washing is also strongly encouraged.

Since May, the CDC has confirmed reports of more than 1,600 cases, largely in the Midwestern states, with more than 5,000 potential cases that still required testing. No one has died.

On Wednesday, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 19 cases throughout the state this year, with 11 in Maricopa County.

Zavala said urged anyone experiencing symptoms, particularly “watery” diarrhea, to see a doctor.

In many cases, she said, the parasite can pass through a person’s system before they’re able to see a healthcare provider. But for those who are immunocompromised, the symptoms can be prolonged.

She added that cyclospora in adults is treated through trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or TMP-SMX, in the form of a tablet taken orally.