News Release – DOH Investigates Potential Locally Acquired Case of Cyclosporiasis on Oʻahu
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO
KENNETH S. FINK, MD, MGA, MPH
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
DOH INVESTIGATES POTENTIAL LOCALLY ACQUIRED CASE OF CYCLOSPORIASIS ON OʻAHU
26-110
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2026
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) is investigating a sixth reported case of cyclosporiasis. The case involves an Oʻahu resident who became ill at the end of July and did not travel outside Hawaiʻi during the period when they were likely exposed. The five cases previously reported in Hawaiʻi since the beginning of July all involved individuals who had traveled outside Hawaiʻi during their likely exposure periods.
Because the individual did not travel, DOH investigators are carefully reviewing potential food and other exposures to determine whether and how the infection may have been acquired locally. At this time, no suspected contaminated food source has been identified. Cyclosporiasis can occur sporadically, including in tropical climates. A single locally acquired case does not change the overall risk assessment for the general public, which remains low. DOH will continue to update the public on investigation findings as they become available.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite. Symptoms usually begin about one week after exposure but can appear anywhere from two days to two weeks later. The most common symptom is frequent, watery diarrhea. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or bloating, nausea, increased gas, fatigue and, less commonly, vomiting or low-grade fever.
You can reduce your risk of cyclosporiasis by:
- Washing your hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the restroom.
- Washing fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.
- Seeking medical care if you experience severe diarrhea or diarrhea lasting longer than a few days.
Cyclosporiasis is treatable with prescription antibiotics. Without treatment, symptoms may last for several weeks or longer and can come and go. Individuals experiencing diarrhea lasting longer than a few days should contact their healthcare provider. Healthcare providers who suspect cyclosporiasis are encouraged to report cases to DOH and submit appropriate specimens to commercial laboratories for specialized testing.
Cyclospora is not known to spread directly from person to person. The parasite is shed in the feces of infected people and must mature outside the body, in the environment, before it becomes infectious. People become infected when mature Cyclospora parasites contaminate food or water. In the United States, past outbreaks have most often been linked to certain fresh produce items.
National, state and local public health officials continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce processed by Taylor Farms de Mexico. Taylor Farms de Mexico initiated a recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, 2026. Most illnesses associated with the outbreak began before the recall. As of Aug. 20, the outbreak includes 10,930 illnesses reported from 17 states. No recalled iceberg lettuce was identified as being distributed to or sold in Hawaiʻi. The DOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working to determine whether any of the cases in Hawaiʻi could be related to this or other multistate cyclosporiasis outbreaks.
The DOH will continue to investigate potential sources of Cyclospora infection and monitor for additional cases. DOH is committed to working with healthcare providers and its partners to safeguard the health of Hawaiʻi residents and visitors.
For more information about cyclosporiasis, visit the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division website.
# # #
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
