Cyclospora
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. Without the right antibiotic treatment, symptoms can last for weeks and may relapse repeatedly. Outbreaks are most commonly linked to imported fresh produce. Pritzker Hageman’s national Cyclospora lawyers have represented clients in nearly every major U.S. Cyclospora outbreak of the last decade.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora cayetanensis spreads when food or water contaminated with feces (including from sewage-tainted irrigation water) is consumed. The parasite needs days to weeks outside the body to become infectious, which is why Cyclospora is almost never transmitted person-to-person. Symptoms typically begin about a week after exposure. For a clinical overview, see Pritzker Hageman’s explainer on cyclosporiasis & cyclospora lawsuits.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis
- Watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Stomach cramps and bloating
- Fatigue, nausea, and low-grade fever
- Symptoms that come and go for weeks if untreated
Common sources
- Imported fresh herbs — especially basil and cilantro
- Berries (raspberries, blackberries)
- Bagged salads, lettuce, and pre-cut salad mixes
- Snap peas and other fresh produce
Diagnosis and treatment
Cyclospora is not detected by standard stool cultures; doctors have to order a specific test (typically by request or as part of a gastrointestinal pathogen panel). The standard treatment is trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX); without antibiotics, the illness can drag on for a month or more and recur. If you developed prolonged diarrhea after eating fresh produce — especially during a known U.S. Cyclospora outbreak season — ask your doctor specifically about Cyclospora testing.
Recent Cyclospora outbreaks
Pritzker Hageman has tracked — and filed cases in — the country’s biggest Cyclospora outbreaks. Examples include the 2018 McDonald’s salad Cyclospora outbreak that sickened more than 500 people (the firm filed the first Iowa McDonald’s Cyclospora lawsuit), the Cooper’s Hawk Winery Cyclospora outbreak, and multiple FDA-investigated outbreaks in recent years. You can also browse all Cyclospora news on the firm’s feed.
Can I sue for Cyclospora food poisoning?
In many cases, yes. Because Cyclospora outbreaks are typically tied to a specific imported product, public-health investigators often identify the source — making a successful claim possible. Pritzker Hageman’s explainers on whether you can sue a grocery store or a basil supplier walk through what evidence helps. The Bad Bug Law Team at Pritzker Hageman has handled hundreds of Cyclospora cases.