Seven Union County residents have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, a parasitic intestinal illness tied to fresh herbs, as part of a statewide outbreak that has sickened 940 people since May.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported the county's case count in its Tuesday, Aug. 25 update, which also showed only 11 new cases statewide for the week. That's a sharp slowdown from earlier in the summer, when weekly totals ran much higher. No new hospitalizations were reported, though 32 people statewide have been hospitalized since the outbreak began.
Union County's seven cases make it the second-highest total in the Charlotte region, behind Mecklenburg County's 49, according to WBTV.
What's causing it
State health officials have not pinpointed a specific source. But NCDHHS said recent North Carolina patients reported eating parsley and cilantro more often than expected based on population-wide surveys.
The outbreak is separate from the larger national cluster tied to Taco Bell and Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico, which accounted for more than 9,400 cases across 17 states as of Aug. 13. NCDHHS said the state's cases do not appear connected to that cluster.
Nationally, the CDC had confirmed more than 15,700 cyclosporiasis infections across 47 states and Washington, D.C., as of Aug. 18, with two deaths and 828 hospitalizations.
How to protect yourself
Cyclosporiasis spreads through food or water contaminated with the parasite cyclospora. It does not spread person to person.
NCDHHS said rinsing fresh produce may remove some of the parasite but does not guarantee removal. Cooking food to 165 degrees Fahrenheit prevents most foodborne illness, but cyclospora is most often found in ingredients served raw.
Symptoms typically appear about one week after infection and include watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue and weight loss. People who are immunocompromised may face more severe or prolonged illness, according to the CDC.
No source has been confirmed.
Doctors typically prescribe antibiotics. Without treatment, symptoms can last days to more than a month.
A record year in North Carolina
The state usually sees about 150 cyclosporiasis cases per year, according to the NCDHHS case dashboard. The 940 cases in 2026 dwarf that average and far exceed the 306 cases reported in all of 2025.
NCDHHS updates its case count every Tuesday. The next report is expected Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Union County Public Health Director Traci Colley's office has not issued a statement on the local cases. Residents with symptoms should contact a health care provider or call Union County Public Health at 704-296-4420.
