SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has reported 309 confirmed and probable cases of Cyclospora as of 7 a.m. on July 17, 2026, including 24 hospitalizations and no deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as national outbreaks have been linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico.
The intestinal parasite outbreak in Illinois includes 152 acquired through domestic travel cases, 125 cases involving travel outside the United States, and 32 cases with unknown travel status, according to state data.
Nationally, the Cyclospora outbreak has sickened thousands of people across 34 states, according to the provided information. The Food and Drug Administration has linked many illnesses to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in surrounding Midwestern states.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said earlier in the outbreak that roughly a third of the initial Illinois cases involved recent domestic travel and another third involved international travel.
The state data shows 309 confirmed and probable cases statewide, with 24 hospitalizations reported. No deaths have been reported.
The provided information says Michigan is experiencing what it describes as the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history, with more than 5,000 illnesses.
