So far this year, there have been 93 cases reported of cyclospora in B.C., a parasite infection that causes explosive diarrhea, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control estimates.
Those are typical numbers for this time of year, according to Dr. Mayank Singal, Public Health Physician for enteric, zoonotic, and vector-borne diseases at the BCCDC, who told the Langley Advance Times on Wednesday that the agency is monitoring reports of cyclospora infections “closely, given the outbreak in the U.S.”
“Cases of cyclospora are reported in BC every year,” Dr. Singal told the Langley Advance Times. “Most cases are related to travel. Every spring and summer, BC also sees an increase in non-travel related cyclospora infections due to eating contaminated, imported raw produce.”
Locally-grown produce is not known to carry cyclospora, he said.
“To date, BC is seeing [a] typical seasonal increase in cyclospora cases,” Singal said.
In 2025, there were 220 cases of cyclospora in BC. In 2024, there were 150 cases.
South of the border, multiple states have reported an increase in cases of gastrointestinal disease caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora, compared to the same period in 2025.
Since May 1 of this year the U.S. Center for Disease Control said it has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis and was aware of more than 5,100 cases “that require further analysis to confirm the illness as domestically acquired cyclosporiasis.”
One state, Michigan, has reported more than 3,000 cases. The state typically identifies only about 50 cases a year. Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky have also reported higher-than-normal numbers.
Cyclospora infects the small intestine (bowel) and usually causes watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.
To reduce the risk of cyclospora and other gastrointestinal infections BCCDC recommends washing hands thoroughly before handling food, washing fruits and vegetables as thoroughly as possible before eating them, cooking fruits and vegetables when possible and never drinking untreated surface water from streams, rivers, lakes, ponds or shallow wells.