PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Two Oregon residents are confirmed to have contracted Cyclospora infections that may be connected to the now-infamous multistate foodborne illness outbreak that reportedly causes “explosive diarrhea.”
According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), both people recently traveled to states tied to a nationwide recall of pre-shredded iceberg lettuce linked to the outbreak. Health officials are not releasing details about the two patients.
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The good news for Oregonians: OHA says the overall risk to the public remains low. The recalled lettuce, which was voluntarily pulled from shelves July 17, was not reported to have been distributed in Oregon.
Officials also stressed that Cyclospora cannot be spread directly from one person to another.
Oregon also isn’t seeing an unusual spike in cases. So far this year, the state has reported 23 cases of cyclosporiasis, a number that’s in line with recent years. There were 26 cases reported in 2025, 30 in 2024, 10 in 2023, eight in 2022 and 14 in 2021.
Even so, health officials say more cases linked to the national outbreak could surface as people return from affected states or as investigators identify additional contaminated products.
To lower the risk of foodborne illness, OHA recommends washing your hands and food preparation surfaces often, rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or preparing them, and cooking foods to the proper temperature.
