WINK Digital Team
•8/28/2026
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WINK) — Cases of the intestinal parasite Cyclospora have risen to 486 across Florida this year, but the increases in reported cases have become smaller in recent weeks, according to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health.
Earlier in July, reported cases increased much more sharply. Florida went from 60 cases as of July 4 to 106 cases as of July 11 — an increase of 46 cases, or about 77% in one week, state data shows.
More recently, the state reported 417 cases as of Aug. 8 and 460 as of Aug. 15, an increase of 43 cases. The latest data, which run through Aug. 22, show 486 cases — an increase of 26 from the previous report.
The Florida Department of Health's data include confirmed and probable cases and are preliminary, meaning totals can change as cases are investigated and reports are updated.
Miami-Dade County has the most reported cases in Florida with 63 followed by Lee County with 43, Bay County with 37.
The counties reporting cases include:
The outbreak comes as cyclospora cases continue to be reported across the U.S.
Earlier this week, the CDC reported about 29,000 confirmed or suspected cyclospora cases nationwide this year, including 922 hospitalizations.
Two people have died in the United States from the ongoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Separately, federal health officials have linked more than 11,000 illnesses in 20 states to recalled iceberg lettuce and are investigating lettuce grown at a Taylor Farms operation in central Mexico, according to The Associated Press.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Outbreaks tend to occur most often in late spring and summer, according to the CDC.
