Rise in Cyclosporiasis Cases Across Canada
Health officials across Canada are noting a noticeable uptick in cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that produces watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Understanding the Parasite
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora and spreads only when people ingest food or water contaminated with the organism.
Provincial Case Counts
Quebec Reports a Sharp Increase
Quebec health authorities announced an increase in cyclosporiasis cases in 2026, with 107 confirmed infections as of July 11, up from 30 during the same period in 2025.
The province emphasized that the surge is not on the same scale as the Michigan outbreak, which recorded 3,762 cases.
Most Quebec infections have been linked to recent travel, particularly to Mexico, while fewer than five have been associated with travel to the United States.
British Columbia Monitors 93 Infections
British Columbia has recorded 93 cases this year, a figure the provincial health agency says is typical for the spring and summer months.
Health officials note that while many of the BC cases are travel‑related, the province is also seeing a rise in non‑travel‑related infections tied to contaminated imported raw products that appear each season.
A spokesperson for the BC Centre for Disease Control assured the public that the numbers are being watched closely but are considered within normal expectations.
Alberta Confirms Six Cases
Alberta health officials have confirmed six cyclosporiasis cases in 2026, with one reported just this week.
Five of the cases were identified within the last six weeks, and all had illness onset dates between May 1 and July 9, the period defined by the U.S. CDC.
Four of those five patients had recently traveled to Mexico, and none had traveled to the United States, according to a press secretary for the province’s primary health services.
Investigators are reviewing travel histories, food exposures and other potential links, but no common food source or specific product has been identified to date.
Other Provinces and Territories
No cyclosporiasis cases have been reported this year in the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan or Prince Edward Island, according to provincial health officials.
Yukon health officials have not responded to inquiries.
Nunavut has recorded five laboratory‑confirmed cases, and officials said there is no evidence linking the infections to a foodborne outbreak or to imported produce from the United States.
Two cases were reported to Public Health Ontario in March, and Manitoba has identified one case that remains under investigation.
National and United States Overview
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,645 laboratory‑confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across 34 states as of July 13, with 141 patients hospitalized.
More than 5,100 potential cases are currently being reviewed to determine whether they were acquired domestically.
Between May 1 and June 16, the CDC noted 145 cases in 17 states, highlighting the seasonal nature of the illness.
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have stated that they are not imposing any restrictions on imports of fresh produce from the United States, even as the U.S. experiences its own outbreak.
Public Health Response
Health officials across Canada are employing routine surveillance, including travel history reviews and food exposure assessments, to track the spread of cyclosporiasis.
While the Canadian situation appears less severe than the U.S. outbreak, authorities remain vigilant, especially given the seasonal increase in travel‑related and food‑borne cases each spring and summer.
Public health agencies continue to advise Canadians to practice safe food handling, wash produce thoroughly, and seek medical care if they develop persistent diarrhea or related symptoms.
