WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Two more cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed in Jefferson County, bringing the total to three for the year so far.
The illness — caused by a parasitic infection — can lead to nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea lasting weeks. The first case this year was linked to travel outside the area, but the two newest are not.
“One was earlier in the springtime, and we could link that to travel outside, but we do have two newer cases that are not travel-related,” said Lisa Lagos, Jefferson County Public Health Educator.
Tracing the source is difficult
With a two-week incubation period, pinpointing where someone picked up the parasite is a challenge.
“For cyclospora, it can take up to two weeks actually, with an average of one week, and that’s a lot harder for people to recall what they’ve had for the last 10 days. Not just what they’ve eaten but where they ate it, what the brand was, where they purchased it from,” Lagos said.
Officials say residents don’t need to start logging everything they eat. Public health has electronic tools to help trace purchases and identify potential sources.
“Thankfully there are a lot of electronic resources that we can use to try to help pinpoint and help patients remember what they had to eat,” Lagos said.
Cases not unusual for the county
Jefferson County Public Health says the two new cases may or may not be connected to a nationwide outbreak, and noted the current count is not out of the ordinary. The county recorded nine confirmed cases in 2021, and four cases each in 2024 and 2025.
New York State response
The New York State Department of Health tells 7 News there have been approximately 576 cases reported in New York since May 1st, and current cases statewide do not represent a “major deviation” from the norm. “While cyclosporiasis is generally not life-threatening, as many people with healthy immune systems recover without treatment, the Department encourages all New Yorkers to be aware of the best practices to prevent cyclosporiasis and other infections common in the summer months.”
FDA walks back earlier finding
At the national level, questions remain about the source of the broader outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration initially confirmed that a lettuce sample supplied by Taylor Farms in Mexico tested positive for cyclospora. The FDA has since said that result should be considered a false positive, though the agency says it is still investigating a potential link.
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