North Dakota Cyclosporiasis Cases Double the Five-Year Average

A nationwide surge of Cyclosporiasis has reached North Dakota, where cases this summer are running well above the state's typical average.

Recent reports indicate that the parasite known for causing symptoms like explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, and loss of appetite has higher case counts in North Dakota (summer 2026).

Reported Cases in North Dakota

KFYR reported that as of right now, there have been ten cases reported to North Dakota Health and Human Services. While this doesn't sound like a huge issue for the state, we're currently at more than double the state's typical five-year average of four to five cases.

Over the last several weeks, we've been looking into reported cases in North Dakota, but have found that underreporting and misdiagnosis have made it difficult to track in our state. While officials say North Dakota only has 10 reported cases this year, it's likely that this number is higher.

Since early August, nearly 23,000 confirmed and probable Cyclosporiasis cases have been reported across 47 states. This is a nationwide surge that news outlets originally linked to shredded lettuce.

Health officials and scientists say Cyclospora cases often rise in the summer months, as this is when fresh produce is in season.

State health officials say North Dakota's case count remains lower than in many other states. At this time, no specific product has been linked to the reported cases in North Dakota.

Preventing Illness

Health officials recommend scrubbing produce thoroughly with a brush, noting that rinsing with water alone doesn't always remove the parasite. Cooking vegetables will kill it.