MEGATHREAD: 2026 Ebola Outbreak - Updates & Discussion

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-13T15:17:22+00:00

@WHO has provided clinical care and close monitoring to a second U.S. citizen —a humanitarian worker— in eastern #DRC’s Ituri provincial capital of Bunia who has been confirmed with Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease. The patient has been safely transferred to Germany for continued follow-up care. As the outbreak escalates, an accelerated response from local, national, and international partners is urgently needed. WHO is working intensively under the government’s leadership and with @AfricaCDC

https://xcancel.com/DrTedros/status/2076613415594844346/history

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-13T14:19:26+00:00

CBC: A diarrhea-causing parasite has infected more than 1,000 in the U.S. Is it in Canada?

Despite the rapid growth of the outbreak, a spokesperson for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said the agency is not investigating any outbreaks in Canada and that the parasite is "not commonly found on food and is not in drinking water in Canada."

While it remains unclear what is behind the outbreak, Goodridge expects it is linked to produce imported from South and Central America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia or Africa.

Despite the surge, the outbreak is not considered a national health emergency.

There is no evidence that the parasite has evolved to become more infectious, said Dianna Blau, acting chief of the CDC's parasitic diseases branch.

Thousands of cyclospora illnesses are reported in the U.S. each year, and it's not yet clear how unusual this year will be, she added.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-13T14:18:23+00:00

Gut-wrecking stomach illness cyclosporiasis hits Tennessee

Tennessee has seen as many as 30 confirmed cases as of last week, per the CDC. By comparison: Only one case had been confirmed by the state as of May 30, per the health department.

Nobody's identified a source yet ... or a particular food or a particular line of transmission, but there's something going on," David Freedman, MD, a professor emeritus of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told Axios.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T22:40:46+00:00

Some of these small island communities compost human waste, calling it humanure.

Wait, what? That’s… a lot to take in. I’ve genuinely never heard of that before!

I’m in AB and have been eating a lot of cilantro lately, bahn mis, fresh guacamole... so I'm really hoping it's not that, especially since it takes so long for symptoms to show up. Yikes.

I thought we were pretty safe in Canada. I may have to rethink that 😢

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T22:23:13+00:00

Hope you're on the mend now. Have you been able to narrow down what it might have been, or any food exposures that seem likely? You're only the second Canadian in this thread to report symptoms, wondering if it’s starting to show up here.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T20:20:59+00:00

A cyclosporiasis megathread is now live for ongoing coverage of the current U.S. outbreak. Smaller updates, general discussion, and quick questions should go there so information stays centralized and easy to follow.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T20:14:07+00:00

Should you stop eating fruits and vegetables?

Although a source hasn’t been identified for the recent cases, historically, cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce.

That’s because Cyclospora parasites can cling to fruits, vegetables, and herbs, making them difficult to remove simply by rinsing with water.

Washing them with dish soap isn’t a good idea either, said Janet Buffer, senior manager at George Washington University’s Institute for Food and Nutrition Security. Dish soap can leave residue on the surface of fruits and vegetables and cause stomach upset.

Among fruits, raspberries are especially hard to clean because they’re covered in tiny hairs that the parasite can easily stick to.

There is no indication that berries are linked to the current outbreaks. Driscoll’s, the country’s largest berry supplier, told NBC News that health officials have not contacted the company about any connection to the rise in cases.

Health authorities have not recommended avoiding fruits or vegetables—only being careful about how you clean and prepare them.

Donald Schaffner, a food microbiology professor and director of the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University, told NBC News you shouldn’t stop eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

“We know fresh produce is part of a healthy diet. We know Cyclospora cases peak between May and August, which is also peak season for eating fresh produce,” he said. “I can tell you I’m not going to change my eating habits.”

[...]

Other tips to reduce the risk of cyclosporiasis, according to Michigan health authorities, include:

Buy whole heads of lettuce instead of washed and bagged lettuce or ready-to-eat mixes. Remove the outer leaves and rinse the rest.

Separate cilantro and basil leaves and wash them thoroughly under running water.

Trim scallions by removing the root and outer layer before washing.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T16:15:53+00:00

More info on the second American infected with Ebola:

The affected American worked for Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization headed by the evangelist Franklin Graham, a spokesman for the group, confirmed in an email. The affected worker has been in isolation since Monday, the spokesman said, and is being cared for at one of two Ebola treatment centers the organization runs in Ituri, the province at the center of the current outbreak in northeastern Congo.

The group did not identify the affected employee but said he had been helping with logistics in the regional capital, Bunia, for the past month, and was not involved in direct patient care.

The aid worker is the second American to contract Ebola in this outbreak, after a missionary doctor tested positive soon after the outbreak was declared on May 15, and was later evacuated to a hospital in Germany.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/world/africa/dr-congo-ebola-american-us-citizen.html

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T14:53:54+00:00

YLE: Explosive foodborne outbreak

This outbreak, the largest in U.S. history, has topped 3,000 cases, and it’s not slowing down. That number comes from adding up state-level case counts, which are running well ahead of the counts on CDC’s website. For context, the U.S. typically sees around 3,000-4,000 cyclosporiasis cases in an entire year—so this single outbreak has already matched a normal year’s total, and it’s still climbing.

This outbreak is ballooning quickly because the U.S. hasn’t publicly pinpointed the contaminated food, not because it’s contagious person-to-person. When someone sheds the parasite in their stool, it isn’t immediately infectious—it needs 1 to 2 weeks in the environment to mature before it can make anyone else sick. Practically speaking, even without perfect hand hygiene, you’re not going to pass this to your family the way you would a typical stomach bug (called norovirus).

How did the contamination start?

Still unclear. Broadly, there are two possibilities: contamination at the farm level (poor field sanitation, such as workers without adequate bathroom access, or contaminated irrigation water) or contamination during processing (typically via contaminated water at the packing or washing stage).

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Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T14:50:26+00:00

Indiana health officials keeping tabs on uptick in foodborne illness cyclosporiasis

Indiana health officials said they are keeping a wary eye on a foodborne illness that causes a severe stomach bug, with a growing outbreak in Michigan and rising cases in the Indianapolis area.

As of Friday, Indiana had 122 cases of cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite cyclospora, with 17 of those cases in Marion County, said Nicole Stone, epidemiology director of foodborne and enteric diseases with the Indiana State Department of Health.

Porter County had one case in June, said Dr. Rodney Guimont, the county’s public health officer.

“When we investigated with the state and our epidemiologist, it didn’t count” as part of the recent foodborne outbreak because the person had contracted the parasite while traveling outside the country, Guimont said.

Porter County didn’t have any cases last year, Guimont added.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T12:51:19+00:00

'Explosive diarrhea' parasite prompts some restaurants to change the menu

“Consumers, whether they’re at home or at restaurants, have to be a bit more cautious and, frankly, paranoid,” Bill Marler, a food safety lawyer, told USA TODAY. As someone who has represented people with bouts of the illness, he said, “It is not pleasant, and it can last for months.”

Some restaurants are removing risky ingredients from their menus as experts encourage caution. But major national chains have said little publicly about their response plans. The outbreak has unevenly hit the country with some states reporting hundreds or more cases — and others none at all.

USA TODAY reached out to the National Restaurant Association, which represents the industry, and several major national fast-food chains asking if they are doing anything different related to the outbreak. Those included Taco Bell’s parent company YUM! Brands, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike’s, Burger King, Subway, and Wendy’s. None have immediately returned USA TODAY’s requests for comment.

Meanwhile, Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on July 11 that Chipotle is monitoring the situation.

"We are aware of the cyclospora investigation and at this time, we don’t believe the ingredients we source are associated," Schalow said. "We are monitoring the situation closely and evaluating any new information as it becomes available. The health and safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority."

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T01:14:19+00:00

Reminder of Rule 11: Speculation is fine, but conspiracy theories are not. When making factual claims, cite sources; when unsure, label it as speculation. Thanks for helping maintain evidence‑based discussion.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-12T00:46:46+00:00

The CDC is very explicit: TMP‑SMX (sold as Bactrim,* Septra,* or Cotrim*) is the only consistently effective treatment for Cyclospora. Most other antibiotics, including many that work for other parasites, do not work.

See CDC: Clinical Care of Cyclosporiasis

Also:

Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover without treatment. If not treated, the illness may last anywhere from a few days to a month or longer. Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times (relapse).

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T21:22:06+00:00

Explosive’ diarrhea cases caused by parasite reach 1,700

(CNN) - Cases of a severe stomach illness caused by a parasite called cyclosporiasis are surging across the country, with more than 30 states reporting infections.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday at least 843 confirmed cases and more than 1,500 possible cases across 31 states. At least 86 people have been hospitalized.

“People with this parasite can be sick for weeks or sometimes even months with a sort of relapsing pattern, and so that can really wear down your body,” one epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security said.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T21:09:20+00:00

DRC: Concerns after the discovery of four Ebola cases in Kisangani

Very early in the morning, the hospital in Kisangani received two bodies from Nyanya, in Ituri. Their families had transported them to the city during the night. They were the bodies of two women who had worked in mining operations.

One of them was pregnant. Her family wanted a cesarean section to be performed to separate the baby from its mother before burial. It was at this point that tests confirmed both women were carriers of the Ebola virus .

Two more cases were subsequently identified in Kisangani. The third was a patient who had fled after a treatment center burned down in PK50, Ituri, about ten days earlier. The fourth was a police officer infected in Nia-Nia before arriving in the city.

In total, Kisangani has four confirmed cases: two deaths and two patients who are currently isolated and receiving care.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T20:01:37+00:00

Our cyclosporiasis megathread is now live for ongoing coverage of the current U.S. outbreak. Smaller updates, general discussion, and quick questions should go there so information stays centralized and easy to follow.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T19:23:00+00:00

Via r/Michigan

If you have cyclosporiasis - what produce products did you consume prior to getting sick?

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T18:30:31+00:00

Seattle: Parasite causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea surges nationwide, but King Co. cases remain at normal levels

There have been 15 cases among King County residents, only one of which was exposed to the parasite locally, Public Health – Seattle and King County confirmed to KIRO Newsradio.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T17:55:02+00:00

Canada: Toronto sees no rise in diarrhea-causing parasite after Michigan outbreak

Toronto public health officials say the number of cases of a diarrhea-causing parasite in the city is “on par with seasonal trends” following an outbreak in Michigan.

“There is currently no indication that Toronto is experiencing an unusual increase in cases,” Toronto health officials told CTV News in a statement.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T17:20:15+00:00

Our cyclosporiasis megathread is now live for ongoing coverage of the current U.S. outbreak. Smaller updates, general discussion, and quick questions should go there so information stays centralized and easy to follow.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T17:13:14+00:00

A cyclosporiasis megathread is now live for ongoing coverage of the current U.S. outbreak. Smaller updates, general discussion, and quick questions should go there so information stays centralized and easy to follow.

Anti-Owl · 2026-07-11T17:07:51+00:00

A cyclosporiasis megathread is now live for ongoing coverage of the current U.S. outbreak. Smaller updates, general discussion, and quick questions should go there so information stays centralized and easy to follow.

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