Cyclospora spreads through human waste – so how did it get on food?

US sewage treatment plants likely don’t get rid of all the disease-causing protozoa, and monitoring discharged wastewater for it is difficult.

By: Joan Rose, Michigan State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 10, 2026

Words: 1,283

Last Updated: 1 week, 1 day ago

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By Joan Rose, Michigan State University

The nationwide cyclospora outbreak is very likely a result of sewage contamination in the food supply, according to scientific researchers and public health officials.

The parasite’s spread can become a self-perpetuating cycle. Cyclospora is found only in humans, where it replicates in the intestinal tract, causing severe diarrhea. The organism reproduces by releasing oocysts, which are excreted in those human feces. In the U.S., feces …

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