Louisiana Cyclospora Cases Surge in Past Week, with New Hospitalizations

Red River Radio | By Jeff Ferrell,

Published July 21, 2026 at 12:05 PM CDT

This photo shows a microscopic, single-celled parasite that infects the human intestine, causing cyclosporiasis. The 8-10 micrometer spheres are oocysts, the spore-like stage of the parasite which is the source of infection when ingested with food or water.

The FDA says its investigation is still focused on Taylor Farms and that the agency did not apologize to Taco Bell or the lettuce supplier, only informed them of the false-positive test result for Cyclospora.

The number of reported Cases of Cyclospora in Louisiana has now risen to at least 55. The state health department says five of those cases have resulted in hospitalizations. The parasitic infection can cause stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes explosive diarrhea - which can result in severe dehydration.
As Louisiana Public Radio reports, Louisiana State Epidemiologist Thresa Sokol says the infection can be treated with antibiotics. “It's important to seek advice from your healthcare provider if you think you may have cyclosporiasis, especially because these symptoms can last up to a month or longer, and sometimes the diarrhea may go away and then return.

A Taco Bell fast food restaurant is shown Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Taylor, Mich.

Cases in the U.S. were initially linked to shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms. Taco Bell had released a statement saying the FDA apologized for the false-positive test result for cyclospora on lettuce provided by Taylor Farms. But the FDA denies they apologized, only informing both Taco Bell and Taylor Farms of the false-positive test result. The FDA says their investigation is still focused on Taylor Farms.
The FDA says the false-positive test does not affect the recall. On July 17 Taylor Farms announced it had voluntarily recalled specific iceberg lettuce from central Mexico due to potential Cyclospora contamination. The products included in the recall were distributed to 27 states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, and were sold under the brand names of Marketside, sold at Walmart stores, and and used at Taco Bell and other food services.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that infects the small intestine and can cause frequent, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. The infection is normally self-limiting, and humans are the only known hosts.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)*, Cyclospora cayetanensis* is a protozoan parasite that infects the small intestine and can cause frequent, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea.

A CDC Health Alert published on July 14, 2026, recognized 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1, 2026, and 5,100 additional suspected cases that require further testing to confirm. Prior to 2026, the highest number of annual cases on U.S. record was 4,700 in 2019.