A simple summer salad is making thousands of people sick
More than 3,000 people in Michigan and Ohio have caught a painful stomach parasite, and officials think lettuce is the cause.
Eating a healthy salad is supposed to be good for you. But for thousands of families this summer, a fresh bowl of greens turned into weeks of severe pain and hospital visits.
WHAT HAPPENED
Health officials in Michigan and Ohio are tracking a massive outbreak of a stomach parasite called Cyclospora. So far, the bug has sickened more than 3,000 people across both states and sent dozens to the hospital.
Investigators think lettuce or salad greens are making people sick. They are still searching for the exact farm or supplier, but they warn that other foods could also be the source.
People who get sick face weeks of watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and bloating. The tiny parasite gets into the body through contaminated food or water, and it takes about a week to make you sick.
FACT BOX
- Total cases: More than 3,000 people sick in Michigan and Ohio.
- Michigan count: 2,640 cases and 44 hospitalizations.
- Ohio count: 361 cases and 46 hospitalizations since June 1.
- National reach: 31 states have reported cases of this parasite to the CDC.
- Federal funding: $33 million is given to states yearly to track food diseases.
WHY IT MATTERS
Finding the source of this outbreak is harder than data teams like. Budget cuts in 2025 forced health officials to scale back how they track this specific parasite.
At the same time, this parasite is incredibly tough to map. Its genetic code is highly complex, making it much harder to trace than common bacteria like E. coli.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
State and federal health teams are working together to find the contaminated food. They are asking patients what they ate weeks ago to find a common link.
Doctors can treat the infection with a common 10-day antibiotic. If you have severe stomach pain and diarrhea, you should ask your doctor for a specific parasite test.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Which specific brand or grower of lettuce is carrying the parasite?
- Are the cases in other states part of this exact same outbreak?
- How many more people are sick at home but have not gone to a doctor?
SOURCE NOTE
This story is based on reporting by CNN.
Transparency notes
Published: Jul 13, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.