News Release – DOH Confirms Two Additional Travel-Related Cases of Cyclosporiasis in Hawai’i Residents

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

 

KENNETH S. FINK, M.D., MGA, MPH

DIRECTOR

KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

  

DOH CONFIRMS TWO ADDITIONAL TRAVEL-RELATED CASES OF CYCLOSPORIASIS IN HAWAIʻI RESIDENTS

26-088

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 24, 2026

HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed two further circumstances of cyclosporiasis in Hawaiʻi residents who traveled collectively internationally and to a U.S. state that has reported a cyclosporiasis outbreak.

The two people are members of the identical family. Based on their journey historical past, symptom onset and the recognized incubation interval following publicity to the parasite, the investigation decided their infections have been acquired whereas touring outdoors of Hawaiʻi.

These circumstances deliver the entire variety of confirmed cyclosporiasis circumstances reported in Hawaiʻi in 2026 to a few. The first case concerned a nonresident customer whose an infection additionally was acquired outdoors of Hawaiʻi. At this time, there isn’t a proof of domestically acquired an infection or ongoing neighborhood transmission within the state.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal sickness attributable to the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Eggs of the parasite shed within the feces of contaminated individuals should mature outdoors the host, within the setting, earlier than they change into infectious to a different individual. People change into contaminated by consuming meals or water contaminated with the parasite. In the United States, outbreaks have most frequently been linked to sure contemporary produce objects. The sickness shouldn’t be sometimes unfold straight from individual to individual.

Symptoms often start about one week after publicity however can seem anyplace from two days to 2 weeks later. The commonest symptom is frequent, watery diarrhea. Other signs could embrace lack of urge for food, weight reduction, abdomen cramps or bloating, nausea, elevated gasoline, fatigue and, much less generally, vomiting or low-grade fever. Without remedy, signs could final for a number of weeks or longer and might come and go.

“Although these two cases involve Hawaiʻi residents, they were exposed while traveling outside the state,” stated State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. “There is no evidence of local transmission in Hawaiʻi and the risk to the general public remains low. We encourage anyone experiencing persistent diarrhea after recent travel to seek medical care.”

DOH routinely investigates reportable ailments to determine potential sources of an infection and screens for any indicators of native transmission. At this time, there aren’t any indications that these travel-related circumstances pose a broader public well being danger in Hawaiʻi.

People may help scale back their danger of cyclosporiasis by:

• Washing arms totally with cleaning soap and water earlier than making ready or consuming meals and after utilizing the restroom.
• Washing contemporary vegatables and fruits below working water earlier than consuming, slicing or cooking them.
• Following secure meals dealing with practices when making ready meals.
• Seeking medical care in the event that they expertise extended or extreme diarrhea, significantly after latest journey or consuming contemporary produce from an space related to an outbreak.

Cyclosporiasis is treatable with prescription antibiotics. Individuals experiencing persistent diarrhea ought to contact their healthcare supplier. Healthcare suppliers who suspect cyclosporiasis are inspired to report circumstances to DOH and submit applicable specimens to industrial laboratories for testing.

DOH will proceed to observe for added circumstances and work intently with healthcare suppliers and public well being companions to guard the well being of Hawaiʻi residents and guests.

For extra details about cyclosporiasis, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division website.

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