Lane County urges produce washing amid cyclosporiasis outbreak
Lane County health officials are warning residents to wash produce carefully as cyclosporiasis spreads across 34 states and Oregon watches for local cases.
Lane County Public Health is warning residents to scrub fresh produce carefully as cyclosporiasis spreads across 34 states and Oregon health officials watch for possible local cases. The county says it is working with the Oregon Health Authority and is ready to help manage infections if they appear here.
The 2026 outbreak season began May 1. As of July 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases, with more than 5,100 additional cases still needing analysis. The agency also counted 141 hospitalizations and no deaths.
Oregon has not seen the same surge as some other states. The Oregon Health Authority recorded seven cases in May and seven in June, and Jonathan Modie, a spokesperson for the agency, said none of Oregon’s recent cases have been tied to a common food source or a broader outbreak investigation. In Michigan, one of the hardest-hit states, cases jumped from 170 on June 30 to 572 by July 4, and no specific produce grower, supplier or produce type had been identified as the source.
Cyclosporiasis can bring watery or explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, weight loss, stomach cramps and nausea. Illness can last from a few days to more than a month, and dehydration can be especially dangerous for young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling raw fruits and vegetables, rinse all produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking, and skip a second wash for items marked prewashed.
Lane County Public Health also recommends scrubbing firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush, cutting away bruised or damaged areas and refrigerating cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables within two hours. Cyclosporiasis has been linked in past outbreaks to bagged salad mixes and kits, cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions. No local store or specific product has been named in Lane County, but careful washing and prompt refrigeration remain the best protection while investigators continue searching for the source.
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