Cyclospora: India’s Next Food Safety Challenge

Syllabus- Health [GS Paper-2]

17/07/2026

24 2 minutes read

A large outbreak of Cyclospora in the U.S. has become a worldwide concern, as the microscopic parasite can cause chronic and debilitating diarrhoea.

Infected people may think they are suffering from a typical case of food poisoning or viral gastroenteritis (VGE).
The issue is relevant to India, as a study by ICMR-NICED in 2025 found that the prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis was around 2 per cent among diarrhoeic patients in the eastern part of India, which further increased during the monsoon.
The outbreak reminds us that it is crucial to maintain food safety and sanitation and be prepared for diseases that are climate-dependent.

Cyclospora is a protozoan parasite, unlike worms, which are multicellular organisms.
It lives in the small intestine and may multiply in the lining of the intestine.
Most often, the infection causes watery or explosive diarrhea, cramps of the abdomen, bloating, lack of appetite, and extreme tiredness.
Cyclosporiasis may persist for weeks and might recur over and over, unlike a typical case of food poisoning.
Diarrhoea may be over, but weight loss and malabsorption may continue.

Unfortunately, symptoms of cyclospora are often confused with other common gastrointestinal infections.
Traditional stool analysis for ova and parasites may not be sufficient to identify the parasite.
Special staining, ultraviolet fluorescence or special testing may be necessary.
It is not readily cultured in normal laboratory environments, making research and diagnosis difficult.
No permanent immunity also means that people can become reinfected.

It takes one to two weeks for Cyclospora to be contagious in the environment outside the body, so direct person-to-person spread is less common.
The parasite can be spread by contaminated irrigation water, washing or pesticide water.
Leafy vegetables, berries and other fresh produce are especially susceptible.
This means that Cyclospora is not just a “restaurant hygiene problem,” but rather a farm-to-fork public health problem.
Factors such as poor sanitation, lack of toilets and rural living are significant risk factors.

Because of limited routine testing and low clinical suspicion, there is likely to be a significant underdiagnosis of cyclospora in India.
Gastrointestinal infections and contamination of water can occur during monsoon season.
Outbreaks are difficult to detect before they are eaten when there are delays in reporting outbreaks.
Inadequate documentation in the supply chain can hinder food traceability.
Current surveillance might not be effective at detecting new and underrecognized food-borne pathogens.

Cyclospora should be part of the differential diagnosis of persistent watery diarrhoea that persists beyond 14 days.
Chronic diarrhoeal cases should have specific testing for the parasite encouraged in medical protocols.
Special training is needed for laboratory personnel for staining, fluorescence and molecular detection.
Additional farm-level food safety measures, such as treated irrigation water, worker sanitation facilities, and more rigorous lot traceability, must be enhanced.
Health, agriculture, food safety and water authorities should be linked in integrated disease surveillance.
India needs to undertake genomic surveillance and research to learn about the regional spread and transmission of the parasite.
Public awareness of washing produce and safe food handling should go hand in hand with institutional measures.

Source: The Indian Express