CHARLESTON — An illness tied to a parasite that often contaminates produce and herbs has shown up in South Carolina. It is not, however, tied to the widespread outbreak that has sickened thousands in more than 30 states, including North Carolina, health officials said.
S.C. officials have recorded 16 cases of cyclosporiasis so far in 2026, including 10 already this month, the state Department of Public Health said.
“We are not currently investigating any outbreaks of cyclosporiasis and monitoring is ongoing,” state health officials said in a statement. “We are not part of the multistate outbreak.”
The illness is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and can cause intestinal issues, notably watery diarrhea and “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
While it can cause dehydration to the point a patient needs to be hospitalized, the condition is rarely fatal. Healthy people often recover without treatment. It is not passed from person to person, instead coming from consuming contaminated food or water.
South Carolina expects to see a certain number of cases of the illness each year, particularly between May and August, the agency said.
Five cases have been record this year in Charleston County, the highest number statewide — though cyclosporiasis also has been reported in Anderson, Greenville, Horry, Lexington, Oconee, Richland and Spartanburg counties, public health officials said. The agency does not publicly report cases less than five in a county due to “privacy concerns.”
Cases across the U.S.
Across the nation, the illness has resulted in 1,645 lab-confirmed cases in 34 states as of July 13, with another 5,100 cases pending confirmation, said Dr. Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases.
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