Health department confirms 16 cyclosporiasis cases in City of Houston. Here's what to know

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- There are 16 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in the City of Houston, according to the Houston Health Department. Cyclosporiasis is a serious gastrointestinal illness caused by consuming produce or water tainted with the Cyclospora parasite.

Houston health officials also said that there are 18 confirmed cases from the Harris County Public Health. They said those cases are in addition to 18 cases confirmed by Harris County Public Health.

For context, Dr. Theresa Tran, the director of HHD, provided ABC13 with numbers of how many cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in the city over the past few years:

• 2022: 55 cases

• 2023: 156 cases

• 2024: 25 cases

• 2025: 66 cases

• 2026: 16 cases so far

Dr. Tran said there is currently no connection between the local cases and the larger outbreaks in other states - and so far, no common denominator when it comes to the kind of food people are getting it from.

"I've been watching the news as well, and I've seen the certain fruits and vegetables being named as culprits. And they may have been the source of Cyclospora in the past, but currently in Houston, we, like I said before, have not been able to identify any particular food source. So everything's kind of fair game right now," she told ABC13 on Thursday.

Dr. Tran said she encourages people to continue eating fruits and vegetables to keep themselves healthy, but to take extra precautions.

The main ways to prevent your family from getting it are thoroughly washing all fruits and vegetables and being vigilant about hand washing with soap before eating.

READ MORE: Tips to stay safe amid rising cases of stomach parasite cyclospora

If you experience symptoms like watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and stomach cramps, it's crucial to take action. These symptoms can emerge roughly a week after infection and may linger for weeks or even months without proper treatment.

The health department said that if you have a lab-confirmed case, it is helpful if you visit their website to submit a foodborne illness complaint or give them a call, and that will help as they continue to investigate and try to see if they can determine any connection between the kind of food people are getting this illness from.