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Using a bathroom 20 times a day - life in the middle of US cyclospora outbreak

July 24, 2026

The United States is experiencing its largest recorded cyclospora outbreak, with thousands of people across 41 states infected by a parasite that causes severe intestinal illness including intense diarrhea and stomach cramps. Michigan has been hit hardest with over 7,000 cases, particularly in Monroe County where residents are experiencing widespread anxiety and drastically changing their eating habits out of fear. Health authorities have struggled to identify the contamination source, initially pointing to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico, but a positive test result turned out to be false, leaving the investigation without definitive answers.

Who is affected

  • Nick Palmiter (29-year-old Monroe County resident who contracted cyclosporiasis)
  • Thousands of people infected across 41 US states (over 7,000 in Michigan alone)
  • 286 people in Monroe County, Michigan (population 154,000)
  • Michelle Palmiter and other Monroe County residents altering their diets
  • Taylor Farms (major US food supplier)
  • Restaurants and retailers: Taco Bell, Walmart, Jack in the Box
  • Consumers shopping at affected stores nationwide

What action is being taken

  • The FDA is conducting investigations to identify the contamination source
  • Restaurants and major retailers (Walmart, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell) are pulling food from shelves
  • Taylor Farms is voluntarily recalling all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico
  • Residents are changing eating habits (cooking all produce, avoiding restaurants, discarding fresh produce)

Why it matters

  • This is the largest recorded cyclospora outbreak in US history, causing severe illness that leaves people using the bathroom 15-20 times daily with unbearable stomach cramps. The government's inability to definitively identify the contamination source—including issuing and then retracting a positive test result—has eroded public trust and created widespread panic in affected communities. The outbreak demonstrates the challenges of detecting foodborne parasites and tracing contamination in the modern food supply chain, while significantly disrupting both public health and the food industry.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC

Using a bathroom 20 times a day - life in the middle of US cyclospora outbreak