CDC reports cases of illness causing 'explosive diarrhea' in Nebraska

Nebraska has reported its first case this year of a parasitic disease linked to a massive outbreak across the country.

As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed 31 states where cases of cyclosporiasis have been identified, including Nebraska, which was listed as having anywhere from one to 10 cases. Nebraska had not been listed in previous updates.

Dr. David Quimby, an infectious disease expert with CHI Health, said its lab has confirmed a "handful" of cases so far.

However, a spokeswoman with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said there have been no confirmed cases linked to the current outbreak.

"Since May 2026, Nebraska has received reports of 23 cases, the majority of which have been acquired internationally. DHHS is working with federal and local public health partners to further investigate a small number of domestically acquired cases," Alycia Davis, DHHS deputy director of communications, said in an email. "DHHS will continue to monitor the situation closely and share information as appropriate."

A spokeswoman for the Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department said it confirmed three cases of cyclosporiasis in June, but they were all related to international travel and not to the current U.S. outbreak.

As of Thursday, the CDC listed 846 confirmed cases of the illness nationwide, with 86 people hospitalized. Thankfully, there have been no deaths linked to the disease.

However, the CDC lags in reporting, and nearly 2,500 total cases have been reported by Michigan alone.

Neither the cause nor the source of the current outbreak has been established, although past outbreaks have been linked to contaminated fruits and vegetables. A 2013 outbreak of the disease that sickened more than 80 people in Nebraska was linked to bagged salad used in restaurants.

The best way to prevent the illness, according to the CDC, is to thoroughly cook produce and other food. Produce that is eaten raw should be thoroughly washed. People should also wash their hands thoroughly before and after handling food. The disease does not spread from person to person.