Cases of cyclospora parasite linked to fresh produce, swimming pools on the rise citywide
Officials recommend that anyone experiencing symptoms contact a health care provider for treatment.
New York City is seeing a rise in cases of cyclospora, a microscopic parasite linked to fresh produce and tainted water - with 374 new cases reported citywide in the last month.
The pathogen is known to cause severe stomach problems, including watery diarrhea, raising concerns among consumers and food retailers alike.
According to the New York City Department of Health, residents can reduce their risk by washing their hands with soap and water before and after handling food, scrubbing firm fruits and vegetables with a clean produce brush, cutting away bruised or damaged areas, and cleaning surfaces that come into contact with produce.
Those precautions are already being taken at Green Valley Grocery in Bushwick, where shoppers said the news has made them more cautious, though it has not stopped them from buying fresh fruits and vegetables.
"I'm washing fruit more, trying to buy things I can peel," one shopper said. "What can you eat now? You don't know what's in your food. It's just a scary world."
Health officials have not yet identified the source of what they describe as a rise in cases and are continuing their investigation.
The increase comes after a federal foodborne illness monitoring program known as FoodNet was scaled back in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making case reporting optional.
Officials recommend that anyone experiencing symptoms contact a health care provider for treatment.
According to the New York State Health Department, cases are often linked to imported fresh produce, such as cilantro, salad mix, basil, snow peas and raspberries, adding that most cases do not present a risk of death to those with a healthy immune system.
