© 2026 WUKY
background_fid.jpg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Confirmed cyclosporiasis cases on the upswing in Kentucky

Esta fotografía tomada a través de un microscopio y difundida por los CDC muestra Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts de una muestra de heces. (CDC vía AP, Archivo)
Melanie Moser/CDC via AP
/
CDC
Esta fotografía tomada a través de un microscopio y difundida por los CDC muestra Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts de una muestra de heces. (CDC vía AP, Archivo)

The number of reported cyclosporiasis cases in Kentucky has jumped to at least 620.

Fayette County now has the second highest number of cases behind Jefferson County, matching the size of population centers in the state.

Statewide hospitalizations have jumped from 7 to 24.

For anyone who does have a confirmed case of the parasite, UK infectious disease specialist Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels says it's important to answer the call when local health authorities want to know more about your case.

"If you do get infected, we find that you have it and we prove that you have it through testing... the health department is likely going to call you to try to figure out what you ate, what you did, all kinds of steps," he says. "I would strongly encourage people to talk to our partners in public health. That is how we figure out what causes this, and that's how we can stop it."

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control is reportedly expanding its largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states, adding six more states where illnesses have been traced to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.