Miami-Dade now leads Florida in cases of people sick with diarrhea parasite
Miami-Dade County now leads the state with the highest number of confirmed cyclosporiasis cases as the country races to figure out what’s caused thousands of people to fall ill with the diarrhea-causing parasite during this latest outbreak.
Miami-Dade is now reporting 20 confirmed cases of the gastrointestinal illness, up from nine, with nearly all the cases reported in the past two months, according to the latest state health department data.
Florida has also seen a jump in cases and is now reporting 106 cases of the stomach bug for 2026, similarly, with nearly all cases reported in June and July. That’s in line with the rest of the country, which began seeing more people fall sick with the tiny parasite, cyclospora, back in May, the start of cyclosporiasis season.
Both Miami-Dade and Florida, overall, are reporting far fewer cases compared to more hard-hit areas such as Michigan, which has reported over 4,000 cases.
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How many confirmed cyclosporiasis cases does Florida have?
Of the 106 reported cases in Florida, 104 of the cases are confirmed to be cyclosporiasis, according to the update, which was made this week and reflects preliminary data gathered through July 11. Two cases — one in Duval County and one in St. Johns — are considered “probable” and still under investigation.
This latest update now puts Miami-Dade as the Florida county with the highest number of confirmed cases, dethroning Lee County, which now has the second-highest number of cases (16), followed by Broward (7).
How many cyclosporiasis cases are in South Florida?
Miami-Dade isn’t the only South Florida county that saw an increase in cases.
Broward County now has seven confirmed cases, up from five; Palm Beach County saw one additional case, bringing its total to three; and Monroe County, home to the Florida Keys, has reported its first confirmed case, according to the state’s preliminary data.
What about other Florida counties? Take a look:
How can you get sick?
People can get the stomach bug from contaminated food and water. Federal health officials are still trying to pinpoint the source or sources of the outbreaks, but previous outbreaks have been linked to contaminated fresh produce — things like lettuce, basil, cilantro, raspberries, spring mix.
If you begin to feel symptoms including watery and explosive diarrhea, contact your doctor. The only way to check for cyclosporiasis is to get tested.
This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 1:15 PM.
